Farmer death while spraying is intolerable!

Image Courtesy: Andrew Flachs

News in last week of September has shaken souls of the public. In Yavatmal district of Maharashtra, more than 600 farmers were admitted to hospital due to fatal attacks caused immediately after spraying of pesticides. More than 18 farmers died. How can farmers die while spraying a pesticide? 

Numerous reasons are being given. Lack of knowledge and responsibility has led to this despair.  Many have lost vision and most have become convulsant.

Authorities immediately banned the sale of few pesticides in this region. Licenses of several Krishi Seva Kendra were suspended. All Krishi Seva Kendras were asked to stop the sale of organic inputs.

Bureaucrats and politicians have taken a strong stand, to save their own skin, against farmer's  illiteracy and negligence of Krishi Kendra. Directive to stop the sale of organic input was another act that misleads public and covers bureaucratic deficiencies and absence of political will.

What can be real reasons behind this massacre?

The sudden and heavy onset of pest infestation can be blamed to a great extent. Such onsets lead to heavy spraying, increased exposure.   

Most of the farmers do not wear protective gears. Spillage on body parts, inhalation of fumes, entry of droplets through the open mouth, contamination due to tobacco chewing during pesticide application etc. leads to increased exposure to toxic ingredients. Wrong selection of sprayer nozzles, spraying in the wrong direction and extended duration, continuous spraying on height between nose and knees further aggravate the exposure. Many times farmers use a dose twice/thrice than the recommendation. Some farmers mix two-three formulations in pesticide tank. Many times preference is given only to neurotoxic pesticides as the known-down effect on pest ensures mental relief to the farmer.

Selection of the wrong pesticide is another important reason for increased exposure. Some formulations are meant for application through soil drenching and/or drip irrigation. Foliar application of these formulations may lead to fatal exposure. Allergic reactions may lead to death.  Fipronil 40% + Imidacloprid 40% WG, combo, is recommended for control of white grub hiding in soils of sugarcane. It is neither recommended nor formulated for foliar spray on any crop. Its use in the foliar application may be very much fatal.

Deficiencies in pesticide formulations viz. completely wrong or non-scientific formulations, the inclusion of banned ingredients, use of an excess quantity of active ingredient. Farmers have no control over such deficiencies. Heavy sampling and strict scrutiny can lead to identification and control of culprits. 

However, pesticides are highly regulated products. Before any company can sale an ounce of pesticide in the market it has to undergo a long procedure of licensing. This procedure is designed in a way to ensure the quality, shelf life, and efficacy of pesticides. Utmost care is taken to verify that pesticide shall remain safe during transport, handling. Each container must accompany literature in various languages to ensure that every user is aware of threats and methods of use. 

The company has to undertake three years trial of each formulation under various agroclimatic conditions. Pesticide formulations are recommended on particular crop only after its outcome is verified and justified on basis of authentic data.  

The government has created the tough bureaucratic structure to orchestrate the whole procedure. The government has full regulation on complete movement and distribution of pesticides. Each and every bill issued by Krishi Kendras pass through the scanner of governments bureaucratic machinery.

Although one can blame farmers and Krishi Seva Kendras for their irresponsible behavior, we should not spare bureaucracy for a lapse. Lack of political will is inherent feature in our system.