The Crop Care Federation of India (CCFI) and Bharat Krishak Samaj (BKS) have called for a review of the Pesticides Management Bill 2020 (PMB) stating it would hurt farmers’ interests.The PMB was introduced in the Rajya Sabha to replace The Insecticides Act 1968, that currently governs the registration, manufacture, export, sale and use of pesticides. “While PMB is noble in intent, its many lacunae could end up hurting the interests of farmers and Indian agriculture,” the entities said.The Bill is slated to come up for discussions during the Monsoon Session of Parliament. In its present form, PMB has gaps that can directly impact the Centre’s goal of doubling farmers’ income by 2022, they added “Pesticides have helped farmers safeguard crops against a plethora of pest attacks. Some pest attacks occur on a mass scale, such as the recent locust swarm invasion. Had farmers not used pesticides in time, their crops could have been devastated, jeopardising their income,” said Ajit Kumar, chairman (technical committee), CCFI.“PMB 2020 needs to consider these issues and review certain provisions that will impact the availability and accessibility of pesticides,” he said. “The Prime Minister has repeatedly emphasised on the need for doubling farmers’ income and called for reduction in the money spent by the farmers, but the PMB 2020 does not reflect these efforts,” said Krishan Bir Singh Chaudhary, president, BKS.
You have reached your limit for free articles this month.
To get full access, please subscribe.
Already have an account ? Sign in
Show Less Plan
Subscription Benefits Include
Today’s Paper
Find mobile-friendly version of articles from the day’s newspaper in one easy-to-read list.
Faster pages
Move smoothly between articles as our pages load instantly.
Unlimited Access
Enjoy reading as many articles as you wish without any limitations.
Dashboard
A one-stop-shop for seeing the latest updates, and managing your preferences.
Personalised recommendations
A select list of articles that match your interests and tastes.
Briefing
We brief you on the latest and most important developments, three times a day.
*Our Digital Subscription plans do not currently include the e-paper ,crossword, iPhone, iPad mobile applications and print. Our plans enhance your reading experience.
A letter from the Editor
Dear subscriber,Thank you!Your support for our journalism is invaluable. It’s a support for truth and fairness in journalism. It has helped us keep apace with events and happenings.The Hindu has always stood for journalism that is in the public interest. At this difficult time, it becomes even more important that we have access to information that has a bearing on our health and well-being, our lives, and livelihoods. As a subscriber, you are not only a beneficiary of our work but also its enabler.We also reiterate here the promise that our team of reporters, copy editors, fact-checkers, designers, and photographers will deliver quality journalism that stays away from vested interest and political propaganda.Suresh Nambath
