Odisha bans 11 pesticides

The Odisha government today banned products of at least 11 pesticide companies on charges of selling fake pesticides in the market, official sources said.
The state's agriculture and farmer empowerment department also issued 'no-sale' notices to the companies. The action was taken based on laboratory test reports, said Agriculture Secretary Sourabh Garg.
He said that of the 100 samples sent for testing this month and 50 last month, 11 companies failed the quality check.
"We have issued a no-sale and show-cause notice to them. Action will be taken as per the Insecticides Act," Garg said.
The farmers have also alleged that the pesticides were not working, leading to large-scale pest attack on the paddy cultivation in the state.

Union Minister of State for Agriculture, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, who visited the state recently, had also alleged that the pesticides used in killing pests was not proper.