Tamil Nadu - Erode   

Sale of unapproved pesticides causes concern

ERODE: The seizure of large quantities of unapproved pesticide products manufactured and distributed in Kavunthapadi and Gobichettipalayam blocks in the district on Saturday has caused serious concern among the farming community.

The issue came to light when a number of farmers in Kavunthapadi found their turmeric crop started withering after they reportedly sprayed two pesticide products.

The affected farmers informed officials in the Agriculture Department and also staged a road blockade in Kavunthapadi on Saturday. After learning that the two pesticide products were manufactured locally at a godown, farmers gathered in front of it demanding action against the manufacturer.

A team of officials broke open the locks in the godown and found large quantities of pesticide bottles and raw materials. Joint Director of Agriculture Manoharan said that the manufacturing facility was not authorised to produce pesticides by the department.

Preliminary investigation conducted by the department revealed that the manufacturer of the pesticides had sold them at various parts in Erode and neighbouring districts.

Officials conducted a raid at a distribution point in Gobichettipalayam and seized large quantities of the pesticides, which were manufactured at the Kavunthapadi facility. The department had decided to send the pesticide products for quality test.

The farming community, meanwhile, had expressed serious concern over the issue as there was no proper system that would help farmers to identify unapproved and poor-quality pesticides. “These poor-quality pesticides often contain hazardous substances and impurities. The use of non-approved pesticide products by farmers also poses serious threat to health,” agriculture experts here point out.

Farmers, however, blamed the Agriculture Department for its failure to conduct frequent checks at the shops selling fertiliser and pesticides. “If they had conducted frequent inspections, they could have prevented the sale of unapproved and poor-quality pesticides,” they said.

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