Farmers, pest bodies react adversely to ban on endosulfan

Farmers and pesticide bodies today said the Supreme Court order banning the production, sale and use of endosulfan ahead of the coming kharif season would harm the interests of growers, particularly those with small holdings, and hoped the ban does not continue for long.

Reacting to the apex court's order banning the controversial endosulfan pesticide for eight weeks, Pesticides Manufacturer and Formulators Association of India President Pradeep Dave told PTI, "We respect the court's judgement, but the decision would harm interest of farmers and industries engaged in the manufacture and sale of cheap pesticide (Endosulfan)".

He said the country annually produces around 12 million litres of endosulfan, of which 5-6 million litres is used during the kharif season. Kharif sowing starts from June and harvesting begins from October.

Federation of Farmers Association Chairman P Chengal Reddy said small farmers would be the main "sufferers" from the ban on cheap endosulfan pesticide.

"Already the crop loss annually due to pests and diseases is around Rs 30,000-40,000 crore and with the ban on Endosulfan, this loss could mount to Rs 1 lakh crore in a year," he added.

Reddy said endosulfan is used mainly in horticulture and a ban could have an adverse affect on food inflation too. They hoped the ban does not continue for long.

While ordering ban on endosulfan, the SC bench headed by Chief Justice S H Kapadia also ordered two separate detailed studies on the adverse effects of endosulfan on human life and the environment by two committees headed by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) Director General and the Agricultural Commissioner and sought their reports within eight weeks.

The court passed its order on the basis of a petition filed by the CPI(M)'s youth wing, the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI), seeking a country-wide ban on the sale and production of endosulfan in its present form or any other derivatives in the market.