Pesticide poisoning among farmers on the rise; farm activist’s call to ban toxic pesticides

As the pesticide poisoning among farmers in Vidarbha region of Maharashtra on the rise, farm activist Kishor Tiwari said the state has sent a proposal to the Centre to ban the poisonous pesticides. In a statement issued today, Tiwari said more than 60 farmers died last year in the state inhaling poisonous pesticides while spraying the chemicals.

The demand comes in the wake of several cases of farmers’ deaths in Vidarbha region and setting up of a special task force to tackle the agrarian crisis in Maharashtra.

The Union government should immediately accept the state’s proposal to ban such pesticides, said Tiwari, the chairman of the Vasantrao Naik Sheti Swavalamban Mission. Most of these pesticides have been banned in other countries because of their impact on people’s health and ecology, he added

The Supreme Court had earlier sought the Centre’s response on a plea seeking a ban on all pesticides that have been prohibited by other countries. According to the petition, at least 93 pesticides used in India have been banned in other countries.

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