Pesticide Management Bill, 2020 (PMB 2020) in India

The Green Revolution introduced sturdier crop plants that could support heavier grain load without the lodging resulting from the intensive use of fertilisers, pesticides and other inputs. This, unfortunately, left farmers believing more is better — be it seed, fertiliser or pesticide. It had, therefore, become necessary to have regulations in place for the use of inputs in agriculture, and pesticides were thus regulated through the Insecticide Act, 1968. The focus of the Act was on pest management through sustainable agricultural practices, keeping in view the broader policy framework of integrated pest management, where the use of pesticides was considered an integral component. Pesticides have helped increase food production and ensure the nation’s food security. Their use has helped in keeping the crops free of pests, increasing the overall yield and allowing better storage of the harvest. The protection ensured by the usage of pesticides thus allowed the agricultural industry to grow and meet the demands of the rising population. Despite all the benefits delivered by plant protection chemicals in boosting agricultural yield, their possible impact on the environment and living organisms continues to be a cause for worry.

Critical issues

Some of the critical issues in focus in recent years due to the misuse or overuse of pesticides are: residues in food items, pesticide-resistance among pests, emergence of new pests, unintentional poisoning of workers and animals and degradation of biodiversity. In view of this, India’s scientists and lawmakers have begun to discuss the shortcomings of the Insecticides Act, 1968, and focus on sustainable agriculture practices. The Union Cabinet recently approved the Pesticide Management Bill, 2020 (PMB 2020), which is expected to be tabled in Parliament during the Budget session. Will it replace the Insecticides Act and address its inadequacies? Time and again the shortcomings of the present Act have come to the fore, particularly in curbing spurious pesticides, imitation of labels of standard brands, faulty method of drawing samples based on the quota system, little encouragement for players to invest in R&D, lack of NABL-accredited testing laboratories and poor safeguarding of regulatory data and confidential business information. The present situation demands strong legislation to address public concerns and inadequacies in the Insecticides Act.

Narrower coverage

The PMB defines pesticides as substances that destroy or control the spread of pests in agricultural commodities and animal feeds. By doing so, the PMB is seemingly narrowing down the scope of coverage of pesticides and may have overlooked their use for storage pests, vector control for human health and other non-agricultural purposes. The Bill includes a provision to compensate farmers in case of losses due to the use of spurious or low-quality pesticides. The punishment for cheating farmers has also been drastically enhanced so that it will act as a deterrent to wrong-doers. Any person who wants to import, manufacture or export pesticides will have to register under the new Bill and provide all details regarding any claims, expected performance, efficacy, safety, usage instructions and infrastructure available to stock that pesticide. The information will also include details on the pesticide’s potential effects on the environment. One of the most important provisions in the Bill pertains to deterring fake claims in product advertisements. The Centre may also form a fund to handle compensation in cases of losses due to the application of pesticides. It appears that the experience of administering the Insecticides Act over the last few decades has made the government wiser, making it try to bridge the legislative gaps in favour of users (the farmers).

What the Bill lacks

At the same time, there are several issues and concerns in the Bill with respect to the definition of pesticides (which excludes pesticides used for non-agricultural purposes), provision for harsh criminal penalty, absence of provisions for data protection, incoherence between the proposed Bill and the FSSAI 2006 with respect to tolerance limits for pesticides, ambiguities with respect to pesticides approved without tolerance limits, and the free hand given to pesticide inspectors.

Opposed By the Larger Section of Industry

 The larger portion of Industry seems unhappy with various provisions of the bill, some of the important ones are:

 1. Penal Provisions: The Penal Provisions in the Act are too hard and strict, with Jail Term ranging from 1 to 7 years and fine amount of upto USD70000 equivalent of Indian Currency. The penal provisions are attracted even on small discrepancy of labels and leaflets. The whole industry is of the view that these provisions are too harsh and will unnecessary give teeths to the authorities, fueling more corruption in the already corrupt system.

 2. Dilution of Section 9(4) for the metoo registrations - The provisions of Section 9(4) TIT (new Source) have already been arbitrarily removed by the Central Insecticides Board before this bill, even though the Agriculture ministers at different times confirmed that such section is inculcated into the Act to safeguard the small and medium scale units. In this new bill there is no scope of fixing the blunder already done.

 3. Defeating the PM Modi's agenda of ease of doing business: This Bill put so much of regulatory requirements and issues for the industry, that most of the management time will go into fulfilling these requirements, thus making it difficult for the industry due to the unnecessary hurdles, thus defeating the "ease of doing " agenda of the Hon'ble PM Mr. Narendra Modi.

 4. The provisions of the Act are Pro MNC's and make the business difficult for the the local industry.

5. High Cost to Farmers: The regulatory requirements with increase the cost for the Manufacturers, which will be passed on to the farmers, who are already at the last leg of the social and economic strata.

Final Crux

Ultimately, the focus of the new Bill should be on encouraging methods to identify fake products through technologies such as micro-encapsulated pesticides, authentication through security holograms, low-cost transponder tags and tracing technologies which will not only empower the farmers but also provide for better management of pests. The Cabinet, while approving the Bill, also stated that it promotes the use of organic pesticides. However, the present experience of using botanicals — biological products as organic substitutes to chemical pesticides — has not been very satisfactory. In the name of organic pesticides, several marketed botanical products were found to be severely laced with routine chemical pesticides.

 What is important is the message through PMB 2020, that no more will the government tolerate illicit pesticides, and cheating of farmers in the name of pest management; and that it wants to promote science-based activities in the interest of farmers as they set out to avoid the losses induced by pests, diseases, weeds and rodents.

Types of Pesticides

Pesticides are often referred to according to the type of pest they control. Another way to think about pesticides is to consider those that are chemical pesticides or are derived from a common source or production method. Other categories include biopesticides, antimicrobials, and pest control devices.

Chemical Pesticides

Some examples of chemically-related pesticides follow. Other examples are available in sources such as Recognition and Management of Pesticide Poisonings.

Organophosphate Pesticides - These pesticides affect the nervous system by disrupting the enzyme that regulates acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter. Most organophosphates are insecticides. They were developed during the early 19th century, but their effects on insects, which are similar to their effects on humans, were discovered in 1932. Some are very poisonous (they were used in World War II as nerve agents). However, they usually are not persistent in the environment.

Carbamate Pesticides affect the nervous system by disupting an enzyme that regulates acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter. The enzyme effects are usually reversible. There are several subgroups within the carbamates.

Organochlorine Insecticides were commonly used in the past, but many have been removed from the market due to their health and environmental effects and their persistence (e.g. DDT and chlordane).

Pyrethroid Pesticides were developed as a synthetic version of the naturally occurring pesticide pyrethrin, which is found in chrysanthemums. They have been modified to increase their stability in the environment. Some synthetic pyrethroids are toxic to the nervous system.

Biopesticides

Biopesticides are certain types of pesticides derived from such natural materials as animals, plants, bacteria, and certain minerals. For example, canola oil and baking soda have pesticidal applications and are considered biopesticides. At the end of 2001, there were approximately 195 registered biopesticide active ingredients and 780 products. Biopesticides fall into three major classes:

(1) Microbial pesticides consist of a microorganism (e.g., a bacterium, fungus, virus or protozoan) as the active ingredient. Microbial pesticides can control many different kinds of pests, although each separate active ingredient is relatively specific for its target pest[s]. For example, there are fungi that control certain weeds, and other fungi that kill specific insects.

The most widely used microbial pesticides are subspecies and strains of Bacillus thuringiensis, or Bt. Each strain of this bacterium produces a different mix of proteins, and specifically kills one or a few related species of insect larvae. While some Bt's control moth larvae found on plants, other Bt's are specific for larvae of flies and mosquitoes. The target insect species are determined by whether the particular Bt produces a protein that can bind to a larval gut receptor, thereby causing the insect larvae to starve

(2) Plant-Incorporated-Protectants (PIPs) are pesticidal substances that plants produce from genetic material that has been added to the plant. For example, scientists can take the gene for the Bt pesticidal protein, and introduce the gene into the plant's own genetic material. Then the plant, instead of the Bt bacterium, manufactures the substance that destroys the pest. The protein and its genetic material, but not the plant itself, are regulated by EPA.

(3) Biochemical pesticides are naturally occurring substances that control pests by non-toxic mechanisms. Conventional pesticides, by contrast, are generally synthetic materials that directly kill or inactivate the pest. Biochemical pesticides include substances, such as insect sex pheromones, that interfere with mating, as well as various scented plant extracts that attract insect pests to traps. Because it is sometimes difficult to determine whether a substance meets the criteria for classification as a biochemical pesticide, EPA has established a special committee to make such decisions.

Pest Types

Pesticides that are related because they address the same type of pests include:

Algicides
Control algae in lakes, canals, swimming pools, water tanks, and other sites.

Antifouling agents
Kill or repel organisms that attach to underwater surfaces, such as boat bottoms.

Antimicrobials Antimicrobials
Kill microorganisms (such as bacteria and viruses).

Attractants
Attract pests (for example, to lure an insect or rodent to a trap). (However, food is not considered a pesticide when used as an attractant.)

Biopesticides
Biopesticides are certain types of pesticides derived from such natural materials as animals, plants, bacteria, and certain minerals.

Biocides
Kill microorganisms.

Disinfectants and sanitizers
Kill or inactivate disease-producing microorganisms on inanimate objects.

Fungicides
Kill fungi (including blights, mildews, molds, and rusts).

Fumigants
Produce gas or vapor intended to destroy pests in buildings or soil.

Herbicides
Kill weeds and other plants that grow where they are not wanted.

Insecticides
Kill insects and other arthropods.

Miticides (also called acaricides)
Kill mites that feed on plants and animals.

Microbial pesticides
Microorganisms that kill, inhibit, or out compete pests, including insects or other microorganisms.

Molluscicides
Kill snails and slugs.

Nematicides
Kill nematodes (microscopic, worm-like organisms that feed on plant roots).

Ovicides
Kill eggs of insects and mites.

Pheromones
Biochemicals used to disrupt the mating behavior of insects.

Repellents
Repel pests, including insects (such as mosquitoes) and birds.

Rodenticides
Control mice and other rodents.
The term pesticide also includes these substances:

Defoliants
Cause leaves or other foliage to drop from a plant, usually to facilitate harvest.

Desiccants
Promote drying of living tissues, such as unwanted plant tops.

Insect growth regulators
Disrupt the molting, maturity from pupal stage to adult, or other life processes of insects.

Plant growth regulators
Substances (excluding fertilizers or other plant nutrients) that alter the expected growth, flowering, or reproduction rate of plants.

Pest Control Devices
What about pest control devices? EPA also has a role in regulating devices used to control pests. More specifically, a "device" is any instrument or contrivance (other than a firearm) intended for trapping, destroying, repelling, or mitigating any pest. A mousetrap is an example of a device. Unlike pesticides, EPA does not require devices to be registered with the Agency. Devices are subject to certain labeling, packaging, record keeping, and import/export requirements, however.

Preparation method of 5% Neem seed kernel extract

Azadiractin chemical present in the Neem seed will affect on different stages of the pest life cycle. It will act through stomach and contact insects

Required materials: Neem seeds – 5 kilo and sodic soil or soap nut powder – 100 grams

Preparation: Five kilo of Neem seeds dried under shade with good quality can be powdered. This powder can be packed in cloth and keep in 10lts of water for 10-12 hrs. Extract the decoction by pressing the cloth pack for 10-15mints. Filter this solution through a thin cloth. Add 100grs of surf to the filtered solution. Add 100lts of water to the solution and spray it in 1acre during evening time

Uses of Neem seed kernel extract: It affects egg and larva stages. Larvae can feed on the leaves, as the leaves tastes bitter. Azadiractin chemical which is present in the Neem, affects the lifecycle of the pests. The pest will die as larvae or pupae. This solution will not affect human health, friendly insects and environment. Lemonades chemical present in Neem will help in keeping the crop healthy

Advantages Of Aquaponics Over Conventional And Organic Farming

Aquaponics is a system of growing plants and fish together in a mutually beneficial system. Aquaponics is starting to revolutionize the way many people are growing food. Because of the many advantages that aquaponics has over conventional farming and organic farming, it is no surprise why so many food growers are switching to this kind of system.

One of the most precious resources, when it comes to growing food is water. Farmers must dump massive amounts of water onto the land so the plants can get the small amount of it that they need.

Most of this water ends up being wasted through evaporation or soaking deep into the ground. With aquaponics, the water is contained and recirculated in the system and delivered directly to the roots. None of it is dumped on the ground and evaporation is much less. Aquaponics can use as little as 2% of the water that conventional farming uses to grow the same amount of food.

With aquaponics, there is no need for fertile land. Fertile land is very valuable and expensive. But with aquaponics, plants are not grown in the ground, so food can be grown in areas that would normally be unsuitable. With this system, food can be grown on cheap infertile rocky ground and even barren deserts. Since very little water is needed, this can allow food to be grown in many parts of the world where it otherwise wouldn’t.

Aquaponics is energy efficient. Massive amounts of energy is required in faring to till the soil, add fertilizer, pesticides and herbicides. Plus the energy to produce these materials, which many are made from petroleum. With aquaponics, there is no soil to till. The biggest energy user is the pumps to circulate and aerate the water. And these can be run off electricity, which is easy to supply with solar panels.

Plants can be grown closer together in a aquaponics system and they can grow faster. This allows several times more produce to be grown in the same amount of space as with soil farming. And with this organic system, food is known for having more of a garden grown quality than with even hydroponics, with its use of chemical fertilizers.

Aquaponics has a low start up and operating cost. Aquaponic systems can be made from low cost simple materials and equipment. It is also very scalable, making it easy to start small and add on to the system later. You can buy a cheap piece of land and get set up with an aquaponics farm for a fraction of what it may cost to buy the fertile land that would only grow a fraction of the food in the same amount of space.

A great bonus with aquaponics is the production of fish. With many concerns about the quality of imported farmed fish and depleting natural fish, the fresh clean fish from these systems in some cases be even more valuable than the plants they grow. This more than pays for the cost of fish feed while creating free fertilizer for the plant crops.

All help to farmers adopting organic farming, says Nitish

Patna, Jun 22 (PTI) Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today said his government would provide all-possible help to farmers for adopting "organic farming." Inaugurating a three-day International Conference here, Kumar said elaborate measures have been taken for organic farming in Bihar. Stating that the state government was giving more importance to organic farming, he said "we have initiated works on a special programme for promoting organic farming on which a sum of Rs 250 crore will be spent." "Under the programme, one village in each of the 38 districts in Bihar will be identified as organic village," he said adding the state government had made the production of "Worm Compost" need-based and in the first year itself, around 40,000 farmers reaped the benefits of it. "Now now a programme has been launched for making worm compost commercial," he said, adding the state government had decided to give 50 per cent concession under the programme to those who would plan to set up biogas units in Bihar together with production of worm compost. He said the state government had provided free of cost one lakh quintal "Dhaincha Seed" to farmers during this Kharif season and "we want that the fertility of the land is protected at all costs." +We are also trying to promote bio fertiliser and the organic fertiliser will be made available free of cost to farmers for seed development+, Kumar said.

Ethanol from seaweed project to get a major boost with CSMCRI deciding to ramp up off-shore production

AHMEDABAD: The project of deriving ethanol, a bio-fuel for blending with petrol, from a seaweed is all set to get a major boost, with the Central Salt and Marine Chemical Research Institute (CSMCRI) deciding to ramp up off-shore production of the weed by manifolds.

The joint project of Council of Scientific & Industrial Research ( CSIR) and Ministry of New Renewable Energy (MNRE) is expected to give a major push to efforts in the country for producing ethanol from sources other than cash crops like sugarcane.

"We are planning to increase cultivation of ethanol producing seaweed - Kappahycus alvarezi- say in a few hectares of area about 5 to 10 km's inside sea with the help of over 1,000 bamboo rafts," CSMCRI director Dr Pushpito Ghosh told PTI.

The institute has already demonstrated cultivation of seaweed inside 2-3 km of sea on the bamboo rafts, without using any pesticides.

"The sea venture shall be advantageous in two ways. Firstly, the sap derived from seaweed will help raise the nation's sugarcane yield by 10 to 30 per cent, secondly the seaweed bio-mass will be a source for ethanol," he said.

Ethanol, a bio-fuel is used as blend with petrol to lower emission levels. The Centre has fixed 2012 as the deadline for making 10 percent ethanol blend with petrol mandatory, industry sources said.

"On filtering fresh seaweed crush we get sap, which is a bio-fertiliser. The residue solid contains polysaccharides, which is then converted into sugar and fermented to produce ethanol," Ghosh said, explaining the process of obtaining ethanol from the seaweed.

Biofertilizers Market in India - India Continues to be One of the Largest Consumers of Fertilizers

DUBLIN--Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/d4dfc4/biofertilizers_mar) has announced the addition of the "Biofertilizers Market in India" report to their offering.

This report covers the nascent but aggressively growing biofertilizers market in India. Among the major concerns in today's world are the pollution and contamination of soil by excessive and injudicious use of agrochemicals, as well as their detrimental effects to humans a burden borne, in particular, by agricultural workers and rural communities worldwide. Compelled to respond to concerns on both health and environmental grounds, governments all over the world are now switching from 'risk reduction' and 'safe use' procedures, to developing more environment-friendly alternatives of sustainable agricultural production such as the use of bio-fertilizers and bio-pesticides.

Bio-fertilizers are seen as an important alternative technology, since the negative externalities of chemical fertilizers have become well known. India continues to be one of the largest consumers of fertilizers with the total consumption in 2009-10 estimated at 53.3 million tons in terms of various products as against 50.7 million tons in the previous year. this report consist of different key challenges, opportunities, drivers of Biofertilizer market, analysis of major players and implicate the future market and strategies for the Biofertilizer market.

Key Topics Covered:

Executive Summary
Industry Overview
Usage segment
Usage behavior trend
Market Size
Market Structure & Segmentation
Competition situation
Key Drivers
Key Challenges / Barriers
Key Opportunities
Country Advantage
Regulatory Advantage & legal frameworks
Names of industry bodies
Market forecast with Macroeconomic assumptions
Success stories
Bibliography
For more information visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/d4dfc4/biofertilizers_mar