Inter-ministerial Committee will focus on reducing pesticide use, implementing control measures, and developing strategies to monitor and regulate pesticide application at the farmer level.

• The initiative aims to ensure food safety, safe and sustainable agricultural practices and protect consumers from health risks.

Pesticides and its Usage in India

• Pesticides are used to kill, prevent, reduce, destroy or repel a pest. It broadly constitutes insecticides, fungicides, herbicides, and bio-pesticides.  .
  • Herbicides (kill/control the growth of weeds) have the largest market share at 44% (as of 2023)
• >60,000 tonnes of chemical pesticides are used annually (b/w 2019-20 and 2021-22).
  • India's consumption is 0.5 kg/hectare(compared to 17 kg/hectare in some countries)
• States with highest Consumption: Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, and Telangana
• Regulated under the Insecticides Act, 1968.

Impact of pesticides

• On humans: Leads cancer, affect the hormone or endocrine system. E.g. Acephate (classified as Potential Carcinogens by the US EPA). 
• On Agriculture: Decline of Pollinators, etc. 
• On Environment:   Surface and Groundwater contamination, affect non-target plants, fish, etc. 

Measures to be Taken

• Encourage Integrated Pest Management, Bio-pesticides
• Establish appropriate body to administer the Insecticides Act, 1968. (Standing Committee on Chemicals and Fertilizers)
  • The Act is administered by the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, and is kept outside the purview of the Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals.