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Introduction
of unregistered and untested pesticides could result in ecological disorder.
Non-governmental
organisations (NGOs) working in the agricultural space are strongly
opposing the Government ‘prescription’ to address the Fall Armyworm (FAW)
menace.
Following
reports of widespread incidence of FAW in maize crop in several States, the
Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare recently came come out
with an order that makes it mandatory to treat the seeds with two
pesticides — Cyantraniliprole and Thiomethoxam. The Government notification
covers seeds of all crops as the FAW is considered polyphagous (which is
able to feed on different crops). “Since FAW is a polyphagous in nature and
cause significant damage to crops, we recommend compulsory treatment of
seeds,” the notification said.
Experts
felt that this would mean an ecological disorder. Demanding immediate
withdrawal of the notification, they have warned that this could set a
precedent to introduce unregistered and untested pesticides.
The
Centre for Sustainable Agriculture (CSA) said it is highly objectionable to
prescribe pesticides that have not been registered in the country. “This is
in violation of the Insecticide Act. We would like to know about the
feedback on which the decision has been taken and what was the methodology
of collecting such feedback,” CSA said.
In a
letter written to the Additional Secretary (Plant Protection Division) in
the Directorate of Plant Protection Quarantine and Storage, the CSA argued
that it is illegal to make it compulsory to use chemicals that are not
tested and registered in the country “even if we assume that the situation
is alarming.”
Cyantraniliprole,
one of the two pesticides prescribed by the Ministry, can impact various
non-target organisms, including mammals, fish, invertebrates and plants. It
would have extended period of activity after the application with toxic
residues live for up to nearly four years. “It is also mobile. It can move
off-site and affect nearby terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems,” the CSA
cautioned. The second chemical Thiamethoxam (TMX) is known to impair the
ability of honeybees to fly. “It may also pose reproductive risks on
mammalian reproductive health,” it said.
MINISTRY’S
RECOMMENDATION
In its
advisory issued on May 6, the Agriculture Ministry mandated the treatment
with Cyantraniliprole 19.8 per cent mixed with TMX in an equal dose at 4 ml
per kg seed. This, the notification said, will offer protection up to 2-3
weeks after germination.
Interestingly,
it admitted that this formulation is not registered in the country. It also
acknowledged that the formulation has not been evaluated in the AICRP
(All-India Coordinated Research Project) programme.
Kavitha Kuruganti of Sustainable
& Holistic Agriculture (ASHA), termed the notification a knee-jerk
reaction to the FAW attack. “You need to have a scientific study of the
incidence and recommend remedies according to it. One of the two chemicals
that is suggested proved to do harm to honeybees,” she said.
The CSA
said while independently both chemicals have their own bio-safety problems,
the co-formulated products may have much more severe impact.
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