endosulfan- issues in india
DESCRIPTION
The presentation aptly describes the Indian agricultural scenario, implications faced by farmers due to the peculiar Indian climate and the importance of endosulfan on Indian farms.TRANSCRIPT
Endosulfan – Issues in India
Ground Situation in Indian Farms
Ramprasanna Pal, Village Gopalpur, Dist Birbhum, West Bengal is a paddy and vegetable farmer in Village Gopalpur, Dist Birbhum in West Bengal
Mukund Mondal is a vegetable farmer in Village Thuara in 24 Parganas Dist of West Bengal
Kamleshbhai Raujibhai Patel grows cotton and pulses (legumes) and sesame in LunardaVillage in Baroda District, Gujarat
Talavia Gordhanbhai Vallabhbhai grows cotton, pulses (legumes) and vegetables in AkalaVillage of Amreli District in Gujarat
All of them have used Endosulfan safely and effectively for periods ranging from 10 to 20 years. Endosulfan is an important part of their approach towards responsible farming and Integrated Pest Management (IPM). None of them have an idea that in April 2011 the Conference of Parties (COP) of the Stockholm Convention is meeting to decide on a recommendation to list Endosulfan as a Persistent Organic Pollutant
Ground Situation in India
Mr Debarghya Guha is Chairman of Indian Tea Planters Association, Dooars Branch. He has been concerned that India will lose out on its tea production if Endosulfan is no longer available for use in tea as there are no cost effective alternative available. His growers have also been hit by the European demand that Endosulfan be no longer used on tea imported into Europe despite Indian tea meeting Codex standards of MRL (Maximum Residue Limit) on Tea.
Dr Noor is a Professor from Rajasthan Agricultural University who is an expert on cross‐pollination and propagates farming practices which are safe to pollinators and predators. He is concerned that if Endosulfan is banned, alternatives will be harmful to the farm ecosystem and could wipe out colonies of honeybees and affect cross pollinated crops. The farmer will lose out on a vital gift of nature
EndosulfanA broad spectrum generic “contact” insecticide soft on pollinators such as honey bees and beneficial such as lady bird beetle, chrysoperla, trichograma etc
Invented in Germany and in use in global agriculture for over 55 years. Used in India for over 40 years
Third largest selling generic insecticide worldwide with global market in excess of 40 million liters valued at over US$ 300 million (>Rs 1350 cores) with replacement cost of alternative estimated to be in excess of US$ 1 billion (>Rs 4500 crores)
India’s share in global Endosulfan market is over 70%
The Indian market of Endosulfan is approximately 12 million liters valued at US$ 60 million (Rs 270 crores)
Exports of Endosulfan from India is valued at US$ 40 million (Rs 180 crores)
Today in the eye of the storm in the battle of “patented” vs “generic” pesticides
Local needsWe have small farms
Mixed Cropping
Different stages of Crop
Hot and humid climate
Mixed pest population‐sucking chewing
Our farmers need products that are versatile
Endosulfan is recommended by Agricultural Universities as its best suited in these situations
Relevance of EndosulfanMulti Pest
Multi Crop
Safe to Beneficial
Safe to Pollinators
Avoids Resistance
Breaks Resistance
Economical
Pest and Pollinator Management
Pest and Pollinator appear at the same time
Challenge is to manage the pest and allow bee visits
Use bee friendly insecticides
Endosulfan is soft on Honey bees
SHARE OF LOSSES CAUSED BY DIFFERENT PESTS
33%
15%
26%
26%
Insects
Rodents & Others
Weeds
On an average 18% of the crop yield is lost due to pests
Diseases
(Annual monetary loss: Rs.60,000 CroresSource:Working Subgroup on Plant Protection, Planning Commission, 2001)
NCIPM
Components of I.P.M.
Integration of all the methods of Pest Management is essential
as any single method will not be effective
Endosulfan – Cost Comparison
MRP Cost / acre
Product per Lt or Kg Cotton Veg Paddy
Endosulfan 35% EC 286 114 46 69
Flubendiamide 39.35 SC 13800 690 276
Chlorantraniliprole 18.5 SC 12280 737 246 737
Emamectin Benzoate 5% SG 8400 739 672
Flubendiamide 20% WG 7434 743 372
Thiamethoxam actera 4010 321 321 160
Indoxacarb 14.5 SC 3400 680 544
Imidacloprid 17.8% SL 2229 111 89 111
Implications on Indian Farmer
If Endosulfan is listed as a Persistent Organic Pollutant (POP) all countries who have ratified the convention have to take actions to eliminate the trade and use of the molecule over a period of time
It will mean that the Indian farmer will be denied the right to choose Endosulfan as a affordable low cost solution for his crop protection needs
It will mean that he will have to pay about 10 times more for alternatives which may not be as effective as Endosulfan
It will mean that there will be an imbalance to his farm ecosystem as many of the suggested alternatives are not honey bee and pollinator friendly
It will affect productivity of horticulture crops and will result in lower yields of fruits and vegetables which depend on pollination
Project by:
Krishna Chavan (B.Sc. Agriculture)
Sapna Kelkar (B.Sc. Agriculture)
Swati Karmarkar (B.Sc. Food Science)
References:
WikipediaGoogle.comIndian study channelICARMedia Reports from the recent years
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