MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE (DR. SANJEEV KUMAR BALYAN)

(a) & (b): The Central Government has been promoting safe and judicious use of pesticides through Central Integrated Pest Management Centres situated in different parts of the country. Farmers Field Schools are conducted to create awareness on Integrated Pest Management strategies. State Governments and stakeholders are being exhorted to support a ‘Grow Safe Food’ campaign centered around the five essential principles of judicious pesticides use - application of pesticides on the right crop, against pests for which the pesticide has been approved, at the right time, in approved doses, and as per approved method of application through training and media campaigns in Gram Panchayats and rural areas. Advisories have been sent to pesticides dealers to educate them on judicious use of pesticides in accordance with label instructions. Insecticides Rules 1971 have been amended to bring in improvements in Labels /Leaflets of pesticides containers making them more informative to farmers.

(c) & (d): There are 63 pesticides banned, restricted, withdrawn in some countries which continue to be registered in India for domestic use. However, these pesticides continue to be permitted for domestic use based on expert reviews. The list of such pesticides is annexed.
A Committee of Experts has been constituted on 8th July, 2013 to review possible adverse effects of 6 neonicotinoid pesticides and 63 other pesticides which are banned/ restricted/ withdrawn in one or more countries but continue to be registered for domestic use in India. This Expert Committee has already completed its review of neo nicotinoid pesticides and recommended continuance of the use till robust scientific data on adverse effect on honey bees are brought to light. The Committee has also recommended further scientific studies for assessment of risks to honey bees; and display of cautionary statements like ‘Do not spray during flowering of the crop’ on formulations for foliar sprays, and “Use with care to avoid air/dust contamination of the cropping area” for seed treatments and soil application/formulations on labels and leaflets of neonicotinoid pesticides. The Department of Agriculture and Cooperation has accepted the Expert Committee recommendation.

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE (DR. SANJEEV KUMAR BALYAN)

(a) & (b):The Crop Care Federation of India has published a report ‘Facts About Organic Agriculture That many Do Not Know!’ dated December, 2014 wherein it has stated that “ laboratory analysis by Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi shows that every third organic vegetables carry pesticides residues.”
(c) & (d):Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi has reported status of pesticide residues in organic samples collected from Delhi region.
Commodity monitored are vegetables including organically grown: Brinjal, Okra, Cauliflower, Cabbage, Green chilli, Tomato, Capsicum, Cucumber, Green pea, Bitter gourd, Coriander leaves and Bottle gourd and fruits including Apple, Guava, Mosambi, Pomegranate, Papaya, mango, Banana, Pear. Results are as follows:-
Duration Sample Samples with Samples above analysed detected residues MRL

April, 2013-March, 2014	58	16 (27.5%) 2 (3.4%)
April, 2014-February, 2015 67	22 (32.8%) 3 (4.5%)
Total :	125	38 (30%)	5 (4%)
(e): Under the Central Government Scheme, “Monitoring of Pesticide Residues at National Level” samples of organic fruits and vegetables are being collected and are analysed for pesticides residues in 23 laboratories in India.

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE (DR. SANJEEV KUMAR BALYAN)

(a):Proper information among farmers about use of pesticides is necessary for efficacious elimination of pests and diseases. Every manufacturer of pesticides is mandated by law to display labels and leaflelts containing all vital and relevant information pertaining to the pesticide on the container for the benefit of farmers. These label and leaflets are also printed in regional languages. No survey has been conducted on the quantum of loss of crop or farmers affected on account of lack of information about pesticides.
(b) & (c):The Government is implementing “Strengthening and Modernization of Pest Management Approach in India” since 1991-92 through 31 Central Integrated Pest Management Centres (CIPMCs) in 28 States and one UT (Andaman & Nicobar), which conduct Farmers Field Schools to educate farmers on safe and judicious use of pesticides. Advisories have been sent to pesticides dealers through State Governments to stock and distribute/sell approved pesticides, and to advise farmers to follow instructions on label and leaflets of pesticides. Private sector companies are also being exhorted to promote safe and effective use of pesticides through a ‘Grow Safe Food’ campaign.
(d):No specific study has been conducted to assess the achievement of such awareness programmes. However, their achievements are assessed through periodical reviews and meeting.
(e):Under the sub component of “Integrated Nutrient Management and Organic Farming of Soil Health Management” component of National Mission on Sustainable Agriculture, organic fertilizer is being encouraged by providing financial assistance as per Annexure-I.

(a) to (c):	A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.
STATEMENT IN RESPECT OF PARTS (a) to (c) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 227 TO BE ANSWERED ON 10/05/2016 REGARDING
“NEEM BASED PESTICIDES”
(a) Yes, Madam. Scientists in Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), have done significant work on characterization of properties and utilization of Neem for agricultural use.
ICAR has also developed the technologies of making technical azadirachtin concentrates, formulations based thereupon and based on neem oil for use as pesticides. These technologies have been licensed to Industries like Ozone Biotech, Faridabad and Jai Chemicals, Faridabad, who in turn have commercialized several azadirachtin based pesticide formulations such as, Ozo-Aza, Ozo-Rakshak, Jaineem, etc effective in management of pests. The neem technology is a success story of the ICAR-IARI and various other Institutes.
So far Govt of India has registered 9 neem based formulations as pesticides for management of diseases, insect pests and mosquitoes under Insecticide Act 1968.
However, the neem coated urea (NCU) as indicated is not used as pesticide. Neem coating in urea acts to regulate the release of the fertilizer, thereby preventing loss through volatilization/ leaching resulting into air/ ground-water pollution. Research in ICAR has shown that in NCU this loss is reduced by 10-15% and result in increase in rice grain yield from 6.3-11.9%.
(b) Yes, Madam. Neem based pesticides are a key component of all Integrated Pest Management (IPM) protocols developed by the ICAR Institutes and State Agricultural Universities, which in turn are included in the National IPM packages.
Besides, commercial formulations farmers are also trained and encouraged by ICAR Institutes and other organizations for use of crude extracts of neem for pest management.
Government is implementing the eco-friendly IPM through 35 Central Integrated Pest Management Centers (CIPMCs), Department of Plant Quarantine and Storage and Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs), across the country.
The activities are implemented through Farmer Field Schools (FFSs), Kisan Melas, 2-5 days training programmes and season long training programmes for the State Agriculture Extension Officers and NGOs/private bodies.
During 2015-16, a total of 641 FFSs were organized wherein, 19,230 farmers were trained.
Through its order dated 25th May 2015, Govt. of India has made it mandatory for all the indigenous manufacturers of urea to produce 100% of their total production of subsidized urea as NCU.
Accordingly, ICAR has directed all its crop production research to be conducted using NCU.
(c) Government of India has been exporting significant amount of its neem seed oil, technical azadirachtin concentrates, and formulations for years to several countries around the world for use as pesticides.
The following steps have been undertaken to boost export of neem oil and neem based bio-pesticides:-
1.	Simplified the registration of neem based formulations.
2.	Neem formulation industries experiencing modernization.

3.	Motivating Neem plantations and enhancing the efficiency of oil extraction.

(a) to (d):	The Government registers pesticides after a detailed evaluation of efficacy of the product and safety to human, animal and environmental health. Technical reviews are carried out from time to time to assess the safety of pesticides. An expert committee was constituted under Dr. Anupam Verma, Former Professor, Indian Agriculture Research Institute (IARI), to carry out technical review of 66 pesticides that are banned, restricted, withdrawn in one or more countries but continued to be registered in India. The Expert Committee, inter alia, recommended 13 pesticides to be banned, 27 pesticides to be reviewed in 2018 after completion of certain technical studies and 6 pesticides to be phased out by 2020. The Committee further recommended continuation of ban on 1 pesticide and did not offer any assessment of a pesticide which is currently sub judice. The Verma Committte recommended continued use of 18 pesticides. The Complete list is at Annexure I.
Further, the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare is implementing a program for “Monitoring of Pesticide Residues at National Level” (MPRNL) under which samples of agriculture commodities are collected and analyzed for the presence of pesticide residues. In the previous year , 2.9 % of all samples of commodities contained pesticide residues above the Maximum Residues Limits (MRLs) fixed by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India. No residues of banned pesticides have been detected in commodities monitored under this program.
(e): Central Integrated Pest Management Centres (CIPMCs) under the Department of Agriculture, Cooperation and Farmers Welfare conduct Farmers Field Schools to sensitize farmers regarding safe and judicious use of pesticides, use of bio-pesticides etc. A ‘Grow Safe Food’ campaign has also been initiated carrying the message of safe and judicious use of pesticides to farmers and other stakeholders. Package of practices for control of pests and diseases in 79 crops have been revised to include techniques to reduce dependence on chemical pesticides and encourage use of bio-pesticides and other alternative plant protection measures. Under Soil Health Management Scheme, financial assistance is provided to States for imparting training and demonstration to farmers on balanced use of fertilizers.
Further, the Government is encouraging establishment of Bio-fertilizer units by providing financial assistance to State Government upto a maximum limit of Rs 160.00 Lakh per unit. Financial assistance is also provided to farmers/Individual/Private agencies @ 25% of total financial outlay or Rs. 40 lakh, whichever is less under Capital Investment Subsidy Scheme (CISS) through National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development.
Annexure I
RECOMMENDATION OF THE EXPERT COMMITTEE WITH RESPECT TO 66
PESTICIDES

S.No.	Category	No. of			Name of the Pesticides
		Pesticides								
1.	I- to be continued	18		Aluminium		phosphide,		Bifenthrin,
				Carbosulfan,			Chlorfenapyr,
				Chlorothalonil,	Dazomet,	Diflubenzuron,
				Ethofenprox,	Fenpropathrin,	Iprodione,
				Kasugamycin,	Mepiquat	chloride,
				Metaldehyde,	Paraquat		dichloride,
				Pretilachlor,	Propargite,  Propineb  and
				Zinc phosphide
				
2.	II-  to  be  reviewed	27		Acephate,		Atrazine,	Benfuracarb,
	again in 2018, after			Butachlor,	Captan,		Carbendazim,
	completion  of  the			Carbofuran, Chlorpyriphos, Deltamethrin,
	recommended			Dicofol,	Dimethoate,	Dinocap,	Diuron,
	studies			2,4-D, Malathion, Mancozeb, Methomyl,
				Monocrotophos,		Oxyfluorfen,
				Pendimethalin,			Quinalphos,
				Sulfosulfuron,	Thiodicarb,	Thiophanate
				methyl, Thiram, Zineb, Ziram
					
3.	III- to be phased out	6		Alachlor,		Dichlorvos,		Phorate,
	by 2020			Phosphamidon, Triazophos, Trichlorfon
	
4.	IV-   ban   to   be	1		Fenitrothion					
	continued
										
5.	V- to be banned	13		Benomyl,	Carbaryl,	DDT,	Diazinon,
				Fenarimol,	Fenthion,	Linuron,  MEMC,
				Methyl	Parathion,	Sodium	Cyanide,
				Thiometon, Tridemorph, Trifluralin
				
6.	VI- not reviewed as	1		Endosulfan					
	it is sub-judice									

(a) & (b): The Central Government monitors pesticides residues in various agricultural commodities etc. under the central scheme “Monitoring of Pesticides Residues at National Level” (MPRNL). In the previous year only 2.9 % of all the samples of commodities contained pesticide residues above the Maximum Residues Limits (MRLs) fixed by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India.
(c) & (d): The Government is implementing “Strengthening and Modernization of Pest Management Approach in India” through 35 Central Integrated Pest Management Centres (CIPMCs) of Directorate of Plant Protection Quarantine and Storage established across the country with an aim to promote Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approach. CIPMCs inter alia, produce biological agents for release in the fields, conserve natural bio-control agents, promote bio-pesticides as an alternative to chemical pesticides and advocate judicious and safe use of chemical pesticides as a last resort. These activities are implemented through Farmers Field Schools (FFSs), 2 days and 5 days training programmes and season long training program for State Agriculture Extension officers and NGOs / Private Bodies. A ‘Grow Safe Food’ campaign has been initiated to carry the message of safe and judicious use of pesticides to farmers and other stakeholders.
A simple message related to five essential principles of judicious pesticide use - application of pesticides on the right crop, against pests for which the pesticide has been approved, at the right time, in approved doses, and as per approved method of application - is sought to be disseminated in regional languages in Gram Panchayats and rural areas. Package of practices for control of pests and diseases in 79 crops have been revised to include techniques to reduce dependence on chemical pesticides and encourage use of bio-pesticides and other alternative plant protection measures.
(e): The Government registers pesticides only after a detailed evaluation of safety and efficacy to human, animal and environmental health. Under the Insecticides Act, 1968, evaluation is conducted on the following four parameters: (i) Chemistry (ii) Bio- efficacy (iii) Toxicity (iv) Packaging. Further, technical reviews are carried out from time to time and continued use of pesticides is permitted only if found safe.
In addition, Monitoring of quality of pesticides is a shared responsibility between the Central and State Governments. Central Government and State Governments have notified 168 and 11,229 Insecticides Inspectors respectively to check sale of misbranded pesticides. Insecticide samples are drawn on regular basis and analyzed in 68 State Pesticides Testing Laboratories (SPTLs) and at the two Regional Pesticides Testing Laboratories at Chandigarh and Kanpur. Action against misbranded Samples is initiated under the provisions of the Insecticides Act, 1968.