National Symposium Demands Ban of Highly Hazardous Pesticides in India
PAN India | 5th December 2024

Dr. Dwarakanatha Reddy, President, Indian Medical Association Telangana, Addressing the particpants
Observing the World Soil Day and No Pesticide Use Week commemorating the Bhopal Gas Tragedy, a national symposium deliberating adverse effects of Highly Hazardous Pesticides and Weedicides held at Hyderabad. The Symposium was organized by Pesticide Action Network (PAN) India, jointly with the Council for Green Revolution and Centre for Economic and Social Studies in Hyderabad, with the objective of raising awareness on pesticides and weedicides, the inherent science, socio-economic, public policy, health, environment and ecological factors. PAN India presented findings of research on HHPs and Herbicides in India, and released two booklets. Medical professional, Dr. Rakesh Chenna and Dr. Satish Narayana presented about the sufferings and painful stories of paraquat self poisoning incidents, in the symposium. Dr. Dwarakanatha Reddy, president of Indian Medical Association, Telangana shared that the scenario of pesticide and weedicide self poisoning has to be considered seriously, and he supported the demand of banning paraquat.
No Pesticide Use Week and the World Soil Day (5th December) was observed in Hyderabad on 5th December in the Seminar Hall of the premier institute, Centre for Economic and Social Studies (CESS) in Begumpet, Hyderabad. No Pesticide Use Week has been observed every year from 3rd to 10th December, commemorating the Bhopal Gas Tragedy 1984, one of the worst industrial disasters in the world.
The Symposium deliberated the current scenario of pesticide usage in India and its deleterious consequences. Over the past couple of decades, pest management in agriculture including weed management, at farms, homes and offices means intensive usage of synthetic pesticides, of various chemical combinations. These pesticides are inherently toxic substances and are used to kill insects, birds, small animals and other non-human living beings, being promoted as pest control products. Over decades, it has emerged and has been scientifically proven that these chemicals are harmful to all living organisms, as they linger, accumulate and transfer through land, water and air. These compounds cause trans-generational toxicity as well.
Among them, some are termed as highly hazardous pesticides (HHPs) for their worse toxicity potential. “More than one third of pesticides registered for use in India (as on March 2024) are found to be Highly Hazardous, based on the criteria set by Pesticide Action Network”, said A. D. Dileep Kumar, CEO of PAN India. HHPs are among the most used pesticides in the country. Several of these HHPs registered in India are not properly studied or tested for safety, as they were in use prior to the Insecticide Act 1968 came into effect. These pesticides are called as Deemed to be Registered Pesticides. He further pointed that presence pesticide residues in food items have been a major food safety and health issue, and Indian agri exports are getting rejected in global market adding to economic burden to Indian farmers. More than 50,000 metric tonnes of pesticides is used in India every year.
The adverse effects of pesticide poisoning manifest with irritation, dizziness, sweating and lead to severe symptoms such as convulsions and even death. Thousands of farmers and farm workers are getting poisoned with pesticides every year in India, most of which are under reported and under recognised. Long-term health effects include cancer, brain and nervous system damage, birth defects, infertility and other reproductive problems, developmental toxicity, damage to the liver, kidneys, lungs and disruption of the hormone system functioning.
Presenting keynote speech, Dr. Narasimha Reddy Donthi, campaigner and Public Policy analyst, lamented increasing chemicalisation of food production in India. Pesticide poisoning is least focussed upon and understood. Rural families are gripped by the debilitating after effects of intensive hazardous pesticide spraying across India. Each village becomes a gas chamber, akin to Bhopal Gas Tragedy, every crop season. Rural environs are in a grim situation.
Prof. K. Purushotham Reddy, Eminent Environmentalist, exhorted medical fraternity to join efforts of campaigners in advocating of bans on HHPs. He lambasted governments for ignoring to take remedial measures to prevent tragedies due to toxic pollution, even after experiencing the world’s biggest disaster in the form of Bhopal Gas Tragedy in 1984.

Prof. K. Purushotham Reddy, Eminent Environmentalist, addressing the participants
Ms. Heera C. K. and Ms. Roshni K. S., from PAN India, presented findings of their research on HHPs and Weedicides. Currently, about 120 pesticides out of 339 pesticides registered in India qualify to be HHPs. Among the total registered pesticides in India, 100 are herbicides, of which 20 has Highly Hazardous potential. A total of 81 HHPs registered in India are banned or not approved in many foreign countries due to high toxicity and adverse effects. The overall HHP and herbicide use in India is distressing because they are inherently harmful to people and environment. This research points that our food, air, water and soil have been contaminated with the toxic agrochemicals. Many HHPs and weedicides have been reportedly involved in occupational and self-poisonings in India. The symposium echoed the urgent need for banning highly hazardous pesticides and weedicides in India, to safeguard the citizens, ecology and biodiversity from adverse effects of pesticides.
PAN India released two booklets on highly hazardous pesticides and weedicides in the Symposium, which outline the problems of these chemicals in India. The booklets, titled ‘Highly Hazardous Pesticides in India- An Overview’ and ‘Status Of Herbicides In India – An Overview Of Rising Visibility Of Adverse Effects’ outlines the statistics, adverse effects, regulatory and policy gaps on these deadly chemicals.

Front cover of the booklets on HHPs and Weedicides.
CLiCK to lean more about HHPs and Herbicides
Medical professional, Dr. Rakesh Chenna and Dr. Satish Narayana presented about the sufferings and painful stories of paraquat self poisoning incidents, in the symposium. Dr. Dwarakanatha Reddy, president of Indian Medical Association, Telangana shared that the scenario of pesticide and weedicide self poisoning has to be considered seriously, and he supported the demand of banning paraquat and other hazardous pesticides. He assured that the matter would be taken to higher levels to get a ban.
About 50 participants, including academia, farmers, farmers associations, media, medical professionals, and concerned citizens participated.
Pesticide Action Network India has been working on education, awareness, research and advocacy activities on pesticides and their adverse effects. On the occasion of No Pesticide Use Week, observed from 3rd December (Bhopal Gas Tragedy Remembrance Day / Non-Pesticide Use Day) to 10th December, every year, Pesticide Action Network India has been organizing events to sensitize the public and policy makers on the adverse effects of pesticides.
_ _ _
Contacts:
Dr. Narasimha Reddy +91 9010 205 742
- D. Dileep Kumar +91 9447 340 748
Recent Posts
- Booklets on Highly Hazardous Pesticides and Weedicides in India released
- National Symposium Demands Ban of Highly Hazardous Pesticides in India
- Village leaders in Yavatmal commits to stop using pesticides and advance non chemical farming practices
- TWO-DAY TOT WORKSHOP AND SURVEY REPORT PRESENTATION
- Stakeholder’s Consultation Workshop