Why India still allows hazardous pesticides despite safer alternatives?
Every morning, millions of Indian households prepare meals using fresh vegetables, fruits and grains, rarely suspecting that some of the food on their plates may
Every morning, millions of Indian households prepare meals using fresh vegetables, fruits and grains, rarely suspecting that some of the food on their plates may carry residues of pesticides linked to cancer, developmental disorders and reproductive harm. A review of official government documents suggests that many hazardous agrochemicals continue to be used in Indian agriculture despite the availability of safer alternatives. Read Full Story The issue traces back to the Centre's Draft Pesticides Prohibition Order, 2020, issued by the Ministry of Agriculture. The draft was based on recommendations of scientific experts, who concluded that 27 widely used pesticides had safer chemical or biological alternatives available in the Indian market. The committee warned that several of these chemicals were associated with serious health risks, including cancer, foetal abnormalities and neurological damage in children. However, when the government issued its final decision in 2023, only three pesticides -- Dicofol, Dinocap and Methomyl -- were completely banned. The remaining 24 chemicals were allowed to remain in the market, with limited restrictions on their use rather than an outright prohibition. The decision has reignited questions over why older pesticides continue to be permitted despite official acknowledgement of safer substitutes. CHEAP CHEMICALS DOMINATE THE MARKET Industry experts say economics lies at the heart of the issue. Most of the pesticides identified in the draft order were developed 50 to 100 years ago and their patents have long expired. As generic molecules, they can be manufactured cheaply by multiple companies.
Spraying these pesticides typically costs Rs 150 to Rs 250 per acre. By contrast, newer biological pesticides or safer chemical alternatives often remain under patent or involve more expensive manufacturing processes, pushing application costs to Rs 800 to Rs 1,500 per acre. With more than 85 per cent of India's farmers classified as small or marginal landholders, many choose the cheaper products to reduce cultivation costs. The report raises the question of whether the government should subsidise safer alternatives while phasing out hazardous chemicals, instead of allowing older pesticides to dominate the market. INDUSTRY PRESSURE AND ECONOMIC CONCERNS India is among the world's largest producers and exporters of pesticides. According to the analysis, nearly 75 per cent of the country's pesticide market depends on older generic chemicals. When the government proposed banning all 27 pesticides in 2020, industry bodies warned that such a move would force hundreds of manufacturing units to shut down, jeopardise investments worth thousands of crores and increase dependence on costlier imported products. According to the report, policymakers ultimately opted for a compromise, balancing economic considerations against scientific recommendations. CHEMICALS STILL WIDELY USED The government documents reviewed highlight several pesticides that remain in use despite restrictions or bans elsewhere. Monocrotophos, classified by the World Health Organisation as highly hazardous, is banned in over 100 countries. India has prohibited its use only on vegetables, while allowing it on crops such as cotton and cereals. Chlorpyrifos, a neurotoxic pesticide linked to impaired brain development in children, continues to be permitted for most crops despite restrictions in many countries.
The BriefWire