Union government to bring Pesticide Management Bill to control improper

New Delhi: The Union government has taken an important step to wield control over the exorbitant prices of chemical and organic fertilisers for which it has planned to introduce ‘Pesticide Management Bill-2020’. The Union Cabinet has cleared the introduction of the bill, on Wednesday. Union Minister Prakash Javadekar said that another objective to table the law is to stop the supply of spurious, sub-standard and banned insecticides to the farmers. The bill also has a provision to provide compensation in case of misselling. This unique feature brings vital relief to farmers.

The meeting of the Union cabinet was held on Wednesday wherein the proposal to bring the Pesticide Management Bill-2020 was approved. With no agency or law controlling the prices of pesticides in the country, different companies charge different rates for the same pesticide. The absence of any regulations has proved disadvantageous to farmers as they end up paying higher prices. There have been many instances of selling spurious and prohibited pesticides to the farmers where they are cheated and suffer loss.

Therefore, there has been a longstanding demand for strong legislation as well as to take tough actions against the sale of duplicate pesticides and to control the prices of pesticides. Earlier, Pesticide Management Bill had been brought in 2008. But there were many lacunas in the bill and did not get the nod in the parliament. The bill was reintroduced in the Standing committee. Now the government has decided to reintroduce the bill after taking a cue from the standing committee. The Union Cabinet has approved the decision.

There will be provision for strict action against those misselling, duplicate, adulterated and banned pesticides to the farmers. Union Minister Javadekar informed that farmers would have to be compensated by the manufacturing companies or the traders and criminal complaints will also be filed against these companies and traders.

Javadekar said that there is also an objective of bringing awareness among farmers, regarding the use of pesticides and the dangers involved and promoting the use of organic fertilisers behind the proposal to bring this bill.