04 Feb Management of old unused pesticides
पुराने अप्रयुक्त कीटनाशकों का प्रबंधन Pesticides are developed to control pests including weeds and are being extensively used in India. Pesticide includes any substance, or mixture of substances of chemical or biological ingredients intended for repelling, destroying or controlling any pest, or regulating plant growth. According to statistical database of Directorate of Plant Protection, Quarantine & Storage, India, in 2017-18, 62247 “000’ hectare area under cultivation is under pesticide usage. It indicated that 71.54 % of area under cultivation in India is under pesticide usage. Environment protection act 1986 and Hazardous wastes Management rules, 2016 recognizes date expired and off specification pesticides as hazardous wastes under schedule 1. At various stages from production to usage pesticide becomes obsolete. India is a country with diverse geography and rich biodiversity. Highly hazardous obsolete pesticides stockpiled may pose risk to human and environment. The Vulnerability is high for pesticide related hazards in the country. It is the social responsibility of people using pesticides in farming and public health applications to prevent accumulation of obsolete pesticides that have adverse human health and environment implications. In this article issues on obsolete pesticides, prevention of their accumulation and their safe disposal as per the Food and Agriculture Organizations’ International Code of Conduct on Pesticide Management is discussed. What are obsolete pesticides? Obsolete pesticides...