Educating public about pesticides: Agriculture Ministry to HC

The Agriculture Ministry today told the Delhi High Court that an extensive campaign has been initiated by it to educate the public regarding safe use of pesticides in fruits and vegetables.
"Department of Agriculture and Cooperation has decided to conduct, through its various divisions, an extensive campaign through the media to educate the public (farmers, traders and consumers) at national level regarding the safe use of pesticide and also to conduct campaigns for safe ripening and storage of perishable fruits and vegetables," an affidavit filed by the ministry said.
The affidavit was filed by N K Sinha, Under Secretary, Department of Agriculture & Cooperation, before a division bench of chief justice G Rohini and justice R S Endlaw.

It said the "Ministry of Agriculture has decided to extend all assistance to the state government of NCT of Delhi in setting up requisite infrastructure for enhancing its capacity to carry out sample testing of pesticides in fruits and vegetables.