“Had Endosulfan been the cause of people’s suffering in Kasargod, farmers all over India would have been having similar issues, which is not the case” reasoned Chengal Reddy, voicing the farmers’ concerns at a press conference today. At a briefing organized by Pesticide Manufacturers and Formulators Association (PMFAI), Reddy was joined by the prominent expert on pesticide residue, Dr. S K Handa and R Hariharan, Chairman, International Stewardship Centre Inc. (ISC), to speak out against the pressure groups that are demanding a ban on pesticide Endosulfan. Hariharan stated that “If the POPRC (Persistent Organic Pollutant Review Committee) recommendation to list Endosulfan as a POP at The Stockholm Convention is accepted, it would be against interests of Indian farmers and farmers in the developing world”. Hariharan added that “It’s unfortunate that there are no observers at the Stockholm Convention representing interests of farmers and farming community while there are a number of observers from environmental NGO’s against use of pesticides. Its time for farmers associations to participate actively and defend their interests at such Conventions” he said.
Dr S K Handa, an expert on pesticide residues criticized the manner in which scientists at National Institute of Occupational Health (NIOH) hastily conducted a study which blamed Endosulfan for causing health problems in Kasargod, Kerala. The NIOH study titled “The Final Report of the investigation of unusual illness allegedly produced by Endosulfan exposure in Padre Village of Kasargod district (N. Kerala)”, has been the root cause for the demand for a ban on the pesticide Endosulfan. Dr Handa rejected the residue study on Endosulfan and stated that “since there was no confirmation referring to presence of Endosulfan in the report made by scientists at NIOH, Endosulfan cannot be blamed for diseases in Kerala.” Supporting Dr Handa’s views, Kapil Mehan, Managing Director of Coromandel International, a leading producer of Endosulfan stated “At Coromandel International we serve millions of Indian farmers through supplies of high quality fertilizers and pesticides and have not received any health complaint from farmers in relation to use of Endosulfan”
India is the second largest producer and exporter of fruits and vegetables which need effective cross pollination by the honey bees. Andhra Pradesh is one of the leading states in production of fruits and vegetables and farmers here depend on bee visits. Endosulfan is the last available plant protection which is safe for honey bees and it continues to be used successfully in farms here. “A scientific error by few scientists at NIOH is affecting the interest of poor and marginal farmers across India. As experience shows, there has been successful use of Endosulfan through 40 years in India and 55 years in Europe. Ill effects if any should have been visible long ago.” said Reddy.
Anil Kakkar, Director – Crop Care Federation of India cited that, in countries such as India where small acre farming and sustainable farming is widely prevalent, concepts such as Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and Insect Resistance Management (IRM) are promoted by agricultural universities and agronomists. This involves use of generic insecticides like Endosulfan which are soft on pollinators such as honey bees and beneficial insects such as lady bird beetle and chrysoperla. Anil Kakkar stated that “A ban on Endosulfan would deprive the Indian farmer access to an affordable and effective crop protection solution and alternatives are likely to be harmful to the farm ecosystem and destroy pollinators and beneficials”
Though EU-region accounts for only 8% of the world’s agricultural land it is world leader in chemical and pesticide trade. There are concerted efforts to maneuver trade through international conventions and trade restrictive practices. The global crop protection industry is worth US$ 40 billion and the top three companies alone account for over 50% of this market. All three of them are European and it is not surprising that the European Commission works in the best interest of its industry. “There is a strong motivation for the European multinationals to replace widely used, generic and low priced pesticides with their high priced patented alternatives,” concluded Pradip Dave, President (PMFAI).
Chengal Reddy is Secretary General – Consortium of Indian Farmers Association and Chairman Federation of Farmers Associations. He has worked for the interests of Indian farmers since 1986 and has been a pioneer in networking farmer associations. He has established Federation of Farmers Associations in Andhra Pradesh and initiated Indian Farmers and Industry Alliance. Over the years, he has participated in deliberations with Union Finance Minister, Planning Commission, Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and others. He has participated in international conferences by International Federation of Farmers Association (IFAP), World Bank etc and was recently invited by World Economic Forum (WEF) for their annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland in January 2011.
Dr S K Handa, Fellow of National Academy of Agricultural Sciences, has over 35 years of research experience in pesticide residues and was former WHO consultant, Ministry of Health, Government of India. He was All India Coordinator for pesticide residues, has authored several books on pesticide residue analysis and has published 120 research papers.
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About Pesticides Manufacturers and Formulators Association of India (PMFAI): Since 1967 PMFAI has provided a platform for Indian pesticide manufacturers and formulators and represented their interests. The members of PMFAI include large-medium and small scale basic manufacturers & manufacturers of intermediates required for Pesticides. PMFAI organises various training programs and seminars for the Indian Pesticide Industry and keeps its members updated on the recent developments as regards to regulatory affairs which are time to time changed by State and Central Governments.
International Stewardship Centre, Inc.: The International Stewardship Centre Inc. (ISC) is a non-profit corporation, was created for the purpose of educating, promoting and encouraging safety in the manufacture, transport, distribution, storage, use and disposal of chemical substances. ISC works through its member companies with both end users and governments in sharing product stewardship information. Its membership consists of manufacturers of industrial chemicals and insecticides. By the nature of its charter, member companies of ISC are committed to the safe use of chemicals. ISC supports the stated principles of the Stockholm Convention in which it has been granted observer status and has followed closely the deliberations and developments at its various meetings.
Crop Care Federation of India (CCFI): It is one of the oldest and foremost associations. CCFI is a non-profit, non-commercial organization, endeavoring to build a responsible image for the agrochemical industry Most of the leading pesticides manufacturers and formulators are its members. As a committed and progressive body representing the Indian agrochemical industry, CCFI has pursued its focal goal of advancing the cause of Indian farmers through better crop-protection.