Seeds, Soil and Machines: India's Farm Inputs
Pesticides: Protection and Risks
How pesticides protect crops, why overuse and misuse harm farmers and consumers, and how regulation and integrated pest management help.
Pesticides protect crops from insects, weeds and diseases.
Benefits
- Prevent crop losses, which can be large without protection.
- Protect yields and incomes.
Risks
- Farmer poisoning: in 2017, dozens of farmers in Yavatmal, Maharashtra, died after spraying pesticides without protective gear.
- Residues in food.
- Harm to bees, birds and water.
- Pest resistance from overuse.
Why misuse happens
- Dealers’ advice focused on sales.
- Lack of training and protective equipment.
- Spurious products.
Regulation
- The Insecticides Act, 1968 regulates pesticides.
- India has banned several hazardous pesticides, though some banned elsewhere remain in use.
- A Pesticide Management Bill has been proposed to strengthen rules.
Integrated pest management
IPM combines:
- Crop rotation.
- Natural predators.
- Pest monitoring and targeted spraying.
This reduces costs and risks.
The unprotected sprayer
A farmer sprays a toxic insecticide without a mask or gloves. He falls ill, spending on treatment and losing work days.
Thinking more pesticide always protects crops better
Overuse causes resistance, health harm and wasted money.
Key takeaways
- Pesticides prevent crop losses.
- Misuse causes poisonings, residues and resistance.
- Regulation is based on the Insecticides Act, 1968.
- Integrated pest management reduces costs and risks.
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