On september 27, there was a nationwide protest against three laws passed by the center in september 2020 on the marketing of agricultural produce. It was on the same date last year that the president approved those laws. But both the opposition and the farmers on the proposal for another law directly related to agriculture... it's amazing that we haven't paid enough attention yet.

Union Agriculture minister Narendra Singh Tomar introduced the Pest and Fungicides Management Act in rajya sabha last march 2020. The bill replaces the Pesticides Act of 1968. The objective of the Act is to ensure the safe availability of pests and fungicides and to reduce the harm caused to human beings, animals and the environment. For this purpose, the Bill proposes regulations for regulation at all levels such as production, export, sale, stock, distribution and use.

Opposition from industry

If the new bill becomes law, all pesticides registered under the old law must be re-registered under the new law. There are fears that the agricultural chemical industry may be affected as such registrations will go on for only two years under the new law. The price of agricultural inputs will be low only if all the chemicals for agriculture are manufactured in India. But there is also criticism that the bill seeks to restrict the manufacture of chemicals for agriculture. under the new bill, it is mandatory not to manufacture and export any pesticide and fungicide that is not registered for India's use. comments are also being made from an industry that this regulation will reduce employment and foreign exchange.

The act empowers the evaluation committee to suspend, remove and completely ban the use of pesticides and fungicides. If the act is passed in the present form without discussion, agricultural production will be affected due to the lack of timely availability of pests and fungicides. They continue to talk that it could severely affect the livelihood of farmers.



Awareness campaigns on the impact of chemicals on the environment and promotion of organic farming are welcome features of the pest and fungicides management act. The industry is unwilling to give up its profits and continues to make demands for a review by the government. Why have the farmers' representatives not yet started discussing a bill that seeks to protect soil fertility and the environment?
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S Venkateshwari

29/09/2021 09:06 PM