Why in News?

The Pesticide Management Bill, 2020 was introduced in Rajya Sabha by the Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare on March 23, 2020. There are some expert opinion that it will hurt farmers.

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.

What is the Pesticide Management Bill, 2020 (PMB 2020)

• The Bill seeks to replace the Insecticides Act, 1968.
• What it Says ?
  • It seeks to regulate the manufacture, import, sale, storage, distribution, use, and disposal of pesticides.
  • Aims to ensure the availability of safe pesticides and minimise the risk to humans, animals, and environment.
• The Bill clearly defines the pest and pesticides as
  • Pest : Species of animal, plant, or pathogenic agent injurious to plants, humans, animals, and the environment.
  • Pesticide : Any substance of chemical or biological origin intended to preventing or destroying any pest.
    • Used in agriculture, industry, public health, pest control operations, or for ordinary use.
• Central Pesticides Board 
  • Advise the central and state governments on scientific and technical matters arising under the Act.
  • Frame model protocols to deal with poisoning cases due to pesticides.
• Registration of pesticides
  • Persons seeking to import or manufacture are required to obtain a certificate of registration for the pesticide from the Registration Committee.
  • It includes pesticide for ordinary use, agriculture, industry, pest control, or public health.
  • Criteria : Factors such as safety, efficacy, necessity, end-use, risks, and availability of safer alternatives.
  • False or misleading information, or if the maximum limits for the residue of the pesticide on crops and commodities are not specified under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 will not register.
• A person’s licence will be revoked if he is convicted of an offence under the Act.
• Prohibition on certain pesticides 
  • They pose a risk to, or can adversely impact human health, other living organisms, or the environment
  • They pose a barrier in international trade of agriculture commodities.
• What happen for offences ?
  • Punishable with imprisonment of up to three years, or a fine of up to Rs 40 lakh, or both.
  • Violations : Manufacturing, importing, distributing, selling, exhibiting for sale, transporting, storing, or undertaking pest control operations, without a licence or certificate
  • Exemptions : Persons using pesticides in their own household, kitchen-garden, or land under their own cultivation are not liable

What are the concerns over the Bill ?

• PMB can directly impact the Centre’s goal of doubling farmers’ income by 2022
  • How PMB affect the goal ?
    • Farmers not used pesticides in time, their crops could have been devastated, jeopardising their income.
    • Some pest attacks occur on a mass scale, such as the recent locust swarm invasion.
    • This kind of invasive pest need immediate attention and with the bill it may delayed the application of pesticide.
• PMB, 2020 would not allow the manufacture and export of pesticides not registered for use in India even if these are approved in other countries.
  • Under the Prohibition on certain pesticides clause if Indian authority found that the pesticide pose risk it will not approve license.
  • Even the same will be allowed in other countries.
  • What is the impact on this ?
    • PMB should allow Indian entities to manufacture and export these pesticides, which would help generate employment opportunities and earn foreign exchange.
    • Special provision for export should be added.
  • Ashok Dalwai Committee, constituted in 2018 recommended to promote domestic and indigenous industries and agricultural exports from India.
• Powers to Registration Committee (RC)
  • This would be done without any scientific evaluation.
  • An independent regulator to oversee the RC’s decisions should be included in the clause.
• Impact over Food Security
  • The unavailability of pesticide directly affect the Indian farmers’ functioning and productivity.
  • Food security goal is linked with the timely use of crop protection products.

Source : PRS, The Hindu

Topic 

GS II : Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation