KILL THE PESTS, NOT YOURSELF

KILL THE PESTS, NOT YOURSELF

Pesticides, as its name suggests, it is intended to kill pests. But does it mean it kill only pests? Of course not. It is obvious that it is toxic, and so its greater amounts in even humans can be fatal. Continued exposure or indirect consumption of these can cause a variety of adverse health effects, ranging from simple irritation of skin and eyes, to chronic endocrine and reproductive disorders, brain disorders, liver and kidney damage, cancer, etc.. In addition, they also pose serious threats to environment, and natural pollinators.

The consumption of pesticides in India is one of the lowest in the world. However, despite the low consumption of pesticides, India has more problem of pesticide residues than other countries. This serious issue of pesticide residue in food and agricultural products that we encounter now is mainly due to the lack of awareness and lack of aggressive educational programmes for farmers. They often go for more persistent pesticides, as they give them quick results. What they did not realize is that the toxicity from these pesticides can even remain and build up in our body. As they are persistent, they can cause even birth defects in new born babies, which we have already seen in endosulphan affected areas.

However, pointing out these threats, we cannot always suggest the complete avoidance of pesticides as the best remedy to farmers, especially large scale farmers, as it helps in rapid control or eradication of the main villains in crop growth. So what we should do? Simple. Educate and monitor the farmers for judicious and scientific use of safer pesticides.

Government has already banned many pesticides for manufacture and use in India, while some are restricted for use. But it doesn’t mean that the pesticides that are permitted now for use are safer ones. Some of the pesticides which are now in use in India are either banned or severely restricted in other countries. Shockingly, many of the farmers are still using some of the banned pesticides like furadan (carbofuran), which I have seen many times during my field visits to farmers. I have seen carbofuran granules applied on banana suckers to prevent the viral infection, and what they are saying is that it will be effectively controlled only if you apply a more toxic one. That wrong notion of such farmers is due to lack of awareness. Every farmer should be made aware of the banned pesticides, and the ill effects that a toxic pesticide can cause.

Pesticides banned in India

Ø  Pesticides Banned for manufacture, import and use (28 Nos.)

1.      Aldrin

2.      Benzene Hexachloride

3.      Calcium Cyanide

4.      Chlordane

5.      Copper Acetoarsenite

6.      CIbromochloropropane

7.      Endrin

8.      Ethyl Mercury Chloride

9.      Ethyl Parathion

10.  Heptachlor

11.  Menazone

12.  Nitrofen

13.  Paraquat Dimethyl Sulphate

14.  Pentachloro Nitrobenzene

15.  Pentachlorophenol

16.  Phenyl Mercury Acetate

17.  Sodium Methane Arsonate

18.  Tetradifon

19.  Toxafen

20.  Aldicarb

21.  Chlorobenzilate

22.  Dieldrine

23.  Maleic Hydrazide

24.  Ethylene Dibromide

25.  TCA (Trichloro acetic acid)

26.  Metoxuron

27.  Chlorofenvinphos

28.  Lindane

Ø  Pesticide / Pesticide formulations banned for use but their manufacture is allowed for export (2 Nos.)

1.      Nicotin Sulfate

2.      Captafol 80% Powder

Ø  Pesticide formulations banned for import, manufacture and use (4 Nos.)

1.      Methomyl 24% L

2.      Methomyl 12.5% L

3.      Phosphamidon 85% SL

4.      Carbofuron 50% SP

Ø  Pesticide Withdrawn(7 Nos)

1.      Dalapon

2.      Ferbam

3.      Formothion

4.      Nickel Chloride

5.      Paradichlorobenzene (PDCB)

6.      Simazine

7.      Warfarin

Ø  Pesticides Restricted for use in India

1.      Aluminium Phosphide (Allowed for rat control, 3g tablets in rat burrows)

2.      DDT (Banned in agriculture)

3.      Lindane (Restricted use allowed in termite control only upto 24-03-2015)

4.      Methyl Bromide (Allowed only under strict supervision)

5.      Methyl Parathion (Restricted use allowed in crops where honey bees are not acting as pollinators)

6.      Sodium Cyanide (Only for fumigation of cotton bales under strict supervision)

7.      Methoxy Ethyl Mercuric Chloride (MEMC) (only for seed treatment of potato and sugarcane)

8.      Monocrotophos(Banned for use on vegetables)

9.      Endosulfan (Banned in Kerala)

10.  Fenitrothion (Banned in agriculture except for locust control and in public health)

11.  Diazinon (Banned in agriculture except for household pest control)

12.  Fenthion (Banned in agriculture except for locust control, house hold pest control and public health)

13.  Dazomet (Banned in tea)

(Source: cibrc.gov.in)

 Substitutes for pesticides banned by Govt. of Kerala

Insecticides

Ø  Green labelled (Slightly toxic)

Recommended chemical	Substitute for banned chemical	Recommended for the crops
1.      Flubendiamide (Fame)	Carbofuran, Phorate, Methyl Parathion, Monocrotophos, Triazophos	Pests of rice, and vegetables
2.      Chlorantraniliprole (Coragen)	Phorate, Methyl Parathion, Monocrotophos, Triazophos	Pests of rice and vegetables
3.      Azadirachtin	Carbofuran	Sucking pests of brinjal

Ø  Blue labelled (Moderately toxic)

Recommended chemical	Substitute for banned chemical	Recommended for the crops
1.      Thiomethoxam	Carbofuran, Phorate, Methyl Parathion, Monocrotophos	Pests of rice
2.      Acephate	Carbofuran, Methyl Parathion	Pests of rice
3.      Spinosad	Carbofuran, Triazophos	Sucking pests of Brinjal, Rice leaf folder
4.      Diafenthiuron	Monocrotophos	Cardamom thrips and pod borer

Ø  Yellow labelled (Highly toxic)

Recommended chemical	Substitute for banned chemical	Recommended for the crops
1.      Carbaryl	Endosulfan, Methyl parathion, Monocrotophos	Pests of rice
2.      Quinalphos	Endosulfan,  Phorate, Methyl parathion, Monocrotophos	Pests of rice, Cardamom thrips
3.      Carbosulfan	Carbofuran, Phorate	Nematodes, pests of rice
4.      Dimethoate	Carbofuran	Banana aphids
5.      Cartap hydrochloride	Carbofuran, Phorate, Methyl parathion, Monocrotophos, Triazophos	Pests of rice
6.      Fipronil	Carbofuran, Phorate, Methyl parathion, Monocrotophos, Triazophos	Pests of rice
7.      Imidacloprid	Carbofuran, Methyl parathion	Pests of rice
8.      Chlorpyrifos	Methyl parathion, Monocrotophos	Pests of rice
9.      Phenthoate	Monocrotophos	Cardamom thrips and pod borer

Fungicides

Ø  Green labelled (Slightly toxic)

Recommended chemical	Substitute for banned chemical	Recommended for the crops
1.      Carbendazim	Ediphenphos, Tricyclazole (seed treatment)	Rice blast, brown leaf spot, sheath rot and sheath blight
2.      Carpropamid	Ediphenphos	Rice blast
3.      Kresoxim methyl	Ediphenphos	Rice blast and sheath blight
4.      Pencycuron	Ediphenphos	Rice sheath blight
5.      Biocontrol with Pseudomonas fluorescens	Tricyclazole	Rice blast (seed treatment)

Ø  Blue labelled (Moderately toxic)

Recommended chemical	Substitute for banned chemical	Recommended for the crops
1.      Tebuconazole	Ediphenphos	Rice blast
2.      Isoprothiolane	Ediphenphos	Rice blast
3.      Flusilazole	Ediphenphos	Rice sheath blight
4.      Hexaconazole	Ediphenphos	Rice sheath blight
5.      Iprodione	Ediphenphos	Rice sheath blight
6.      Propineb	Ediphenphos	Rice brown leaf spot
7.      Carboxin	Ediphenphos	Rice sheath rot

Herbicides

Recommended chemical	Toxicity class	Substitute for banned chemical	Recommended for the crops
1.      Glyphosate	Blue	Paraquat	Non crop situation
2.      Butachlor	Blue	Anilophos, Thiobencarb	Rice
3.      Pretilachlor	Blue	Anilophos, Thiobencarb	Rice
4.      Diuron	Blue	Atrazin	Sugarcane

Educating farmers on need based use of recommended pesticides, correct application techniques, observance of prescribed waiting period, and practicing IPM is very necessary to avoid unscientific use of hazardous pesticides. Thus we can make sure we are feeding our children not poisons.



                                                                                                                      ANCHANA.V.V