Fake pesticides put India's food grain exports at risk
India’s export of 29 million tonnes of food grains worth Rs. 1, 578 billion ($26 billion) is at stake due to increasing use of fake pesticides, says a study. “India's position as one of the leading food grain exporter in the world is fully at stake as the possibility of rumors or sabotage by other countries or rejection of Indian exports food items from developed importing countries would increase," FICCI (Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry) said in its report. Besides food grains, exports of 3 million tonnes of fruits and vegetables worth Rs. 88 billion ($1.43 billion) is also at stake due to non-genuine pesticides. The study titled ‘Menace of Spurious/Counterfeit Pesticides in India’ warned the government and food industry of the growing counterfeit pesticides level and said if immediate measures are not taken, it may jeopardize India’s status as leading food grains, fruits & vegetable exporter. The study highlighted that the country’s counterfeit pesticides sector is about 25% by value and 30% by volume. “This is growing at 20% per year. If some concrete action isn’t taken, it will reach up to 40% by value by 2019.” India’s agro-chemicals industry is estimated to be around Rs. 25000 crores. A substantial quantity of pesticides is exported to various countries. The report highlighted some of the major impacts of non-genuine pesticides including irreversible damage to environment, degradation of soil leading to poor crops, damage to flora and fauna, and negative health impacts on humans and animals. Some of the worst effected states include UP, MP, AP, Maharashtra, West Bengal, Haryana, Maharashtra and Karnataka. The study emphasised that a judicious use of agro-chemicals should be carried out in order to ensure a sustained growth of Indian agriculture and economy.
October 09, 2015 | 4:36pm IST.
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