Let The Land Heal

Source– The post is based on the article “Let the Land Heal” published in The Indian Express on 1st October 2022.

Syllabus: GS3- Agriculture and Environment

Relevance– Unsustainable agriculture practices

News– The article explains the issues related to excessive use of pesticides. It also suggests measures to reduce their use.

What is the issue?

There is indiscriminate use of pesticides by farmers.

Lack of quality farm advisory services is responsible for it.

Pest are developing resistance to existing pesticides.

It is impacting the human body and biodiversity.

What is the way forward?

Alternate business model– The business model of the farm chemical input industry must transform to become a service industry.

In India, shopkeepers only sell farm chemical inputs. Individual farmers cannot afford good quality precision spraying equipment. It leads to wastage.

To reduce the wastages, input sale of the sellers could be in the form of services like spray on farms.

Transparent data collection– Shopkeepers should report each sale of farm chemicals to the government in real time.

There is a need for a mandatory QR code on each farm chemical package. These measures will allow for better-targeted farm advisory and grievance redressal.

Independent regulator– Same officials and departments who advocate pesticide use also regulate the trade. The regulation of farm chemicals needs to be transferred to the health ministry.