Kerala may ban hazardous pesticides

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The government is considering a ban on red (extremely toxic) and yellow (highly toxic) categories of pesticides in phases against the background of mounting protests against pesticides in the State, especially in Kasaragod and Idukki districts.

Initially, the ban will apply to sensitive and biodiversity-rich areas and areas where pesticide use is intense.

However, there would not be an immediate ban on pesticide use in cardamom and tea plantations. Prescription by an agriculture officer might be made mandatory for sale of pesticides. In Idukki district, ban on use of red and yellow categories of pesticides is likely to come into effect for crops such as vegetables, banana and paddy at Devikulam, Idukki, Thodupuzha, Elamdesom and Adimali. Agriculture Minister Mullakkara Ratnakaran has asked the Director of Agriculture to prepare detailed proposals in this regard.

The government has already decided to withdraw licences to sell red and yellow categories of pesticides in Kasaragod district.

The Drugs Controller of Idukki recently took action against medical shops for selling steroids and other allopathic medicines for agriculture use. Rules permit only sale of limited number of pills of certain steroids and that too only against prescription.

Meanwhile, protests are growing from within Idukki district against excessive use of pesticides in plantations and vegetable gardens. Trade unions, which were reluctant to talk about pesticides and their impact on the workers, have started coming out against pesticides.

Source: The Hindu, 11-1-2011

Kerala may ban hazardous pesticides

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The government is considering a ban on red (extremely toxic) and yellow (highly toxic) categories of pesticides in phases against the background of mounting protests against pesticides in the State, especially in Kasaragod and Idukki districts.

Initially, the ban will apply to sensitive and biodiversity-rich areas and areas where pesticide use is intense.

However, there would not be an immediate ban on pesticide use in cardamom and tea plantations. Prescription by an agriculture officer might be made mandatory for sale of pesticides. In Idukki district, ban on use of red and yellow categories of pesticides is likely to come into effect for crops such as vegetables, banana and paddy at Devikulam, Idukki, Thodupuzha, Elamdesom and Adimali. Agriculture Minister Mullakkara Ratnakaran has asked the Director of Agriculture to prepare detailed proposals in this regard.

The government has already decided to withdraw licences to sell red and yellow categories of pesticides in Kasaragod district.

The Drugs Controller of Idukki recently took action against medical shops for selling steroids and other allopathic medicines for agriculture use. Rules permit only sale of limited number of pills of certain steroids and that too only against prescription.

Meanwhile, protests are growing from within Idukki district against excessive use of pesticides in plantations and vegetable gardens. Trade unions, which were reluctant to talk about pesticides and their impact on the workers, have started coming out against pesticides.

Source: The Hindu, 11-1-2011

Hazardous pesticides banned in Kasaragod

Neeleswaram (Kasaragod): Apparently yielding to intensified anti-Endosulfan campaign in the State, the State government has announced a blanket ban on the use of highly hazardous ‘red' and ‘yellow' category pesticides in Kasaragod district with immediate effect.

An order to this effect was handed over to Principal Agriculture Officer S. Sivaprasad by Agriculture Minister Mullakkara Ratnakaran at a function here on Friday to mark the district-level inauguration of ‘Harithayoram' project that envisaged utilising waste land stretching along either side of the National Highway passing through the district for vegetable and banana cultivation.

The Minister's announcement would bring into force a permanent ban on highly hazardous pesticides like Thimmet, Furadan and Endosulfan used by farmers and State-owned Plantation Corporation of Kerala's cashew estates in 11 panchayats in the district, an official said.

The ban would be enforced in other districts in a phased manner, he said. The Minister's announcement was received with loud applause from the gathering. It also comes on the ‘Global No Pesticides Day' that coincides with the 26th anniversary of the Bhopal gas tragedy. Thousands of people died after the leak from U.S. company Union Carbide's plant in Bhopal.

The ban of Endosulfan pesticide whose prolonged aerial spraying in the cashew estates of Plantation Corporation of Kerala for over two decades had been attributed as the sole cause for life of misery and trauma being suffered by hundreds of people. Around 500 people had succumbed to mysterious diseases, while over 2,200 people are leading an agonising life where the pesticide had been used extensively.

The Minister urged the people to go back to organic farming to ensure food security and stop excess dependence on vegetables grown in neighbouring States. Describing ‘Harithayoram' project, that envisages utilising nearly 500 hectares of waste land lying on either side of the National Highway from Kalikadavu town to Thalapady, as his ‘dream project,' the Minister said the project was conceived to ensure food security by cultivating vegetables and bananas using organic farming methods.

Kerala, which boasts of rich biodiversity, unfortunately had to depend extensively on other States for essential food items, including fruits, vegetables and paddy, he said attributing the dismal scenario to low priority accorded to farming.

Source: The Hindu, 4-12-2010

Drive against pesticides gains momentum

KATTAPPANA: The Agriculture Department will observe anti-pesticide week from December 3 to 10 in Idukki and monitoring of pesticides sprayed on estates will be intensified during the period.

Principal agriculture officer K.K. Chandran told The Hindu on Monday that campaigns among estate workers would be organised in association with grama panchayats, non-governmental organisations and research centres against the use of Endosulfan during the period.

He said Endosulfan and pesticides beyond the date of expiry would be seized from sales outlets and legal action would be initiated.

Mr. Chandran said there was a tendency among farmers to buy pesticides beyond the date of expiry at reduced rate and spray it above the prescribed limit, especially in small-scale cardamom plantations. This had resulted in withering of crops which also created health problems.

He said there was prescribed dose for each pesticide and the farmers often flouted it when the price of cardamom went up, producing negative results.

During the campaign, the farmers would be exposed to all unhealthy practices and the ill effects of Endosulfan would be explained to the estate workers.

Officials of the department had been posted at check-posts through which Endosulfan was being smuggled into the cardamom plantations.

Farmers using Endosulfan or pesticides above the prescribed limit would not be allowed any financial or other help of the department, he said.

Field studies would be conducted and samples would be tested to analyse the pesticides used in vegetable farms and the level of dosage, Mr. Chandran said.

Source: The Hindu, 2-12-2010

Steps to implement ban on Endosulfan

KOCHI: Agriculture Department officials in Ernakulam district have started taking steps to implement the ban on the sale and use of Endosulfan.

The Kerala State Pollution Control Board had last week banned the use of Endosulfan in the State because of the highly toxic insecticide's harmful effects on humans and the environment.

Endosulfan is widely used on tea, coffee and cardamom plantations in Kerala, especially in Idukki district. It is also used on a variety of other crops. Following the Pollution Control Board's directive, the Agriculture Department, which is the ban implementing agency, has asked its district level offices and field units to strictly adhere to the ban.

The Directorate of Agriculture has sent out a circular to the district offices giving details of how to ensure the ban is implemented.

Neena Raphel, deputy director of agriculture, told The Hindu that agriculture officers in the Krishi Bhavans were being instructed to ensure that no farmer sprayed Endosulfan on their crops and that no insecticide dealer sold it.

She said the agriculture officers doubled as insecticide inspectors and that they would inspect the licensed insecticide dealerships.

Source: The Hindu, 27-11-2010