A​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌ new community-based survey has revealed that hazardous pesticide practices exposed in South Asia are pervasive and dangerous to health. The study conducted in the four countries, India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Nepal, found that the use of highly hazardous pesticides (HHPs) is very high.

India, especially the cotton-producing district of Yavatmal in Maharashtra, was identified as an area where unsafe practices have been carried out, and the lack of protective measures has escalated risks for the agricultural communities.

Survey Highlights Risky Practices Across the Region

According to the South Asia survey, almost 87% of farmers disclosed that they frequently used pesticides, most probably in situations where they had not received training and were not wearing protective gear. These chemicals, the majority of which have been identified by international organizations as being extremely toxic, are considered to induce acute poisoning, neurological problems, respiratory disorders, and a broad range of health complications such as cancer.

The study found that the farmers in the Yavatmal cotton belt are the ones who, in addition to being the most severely affected by health problems caused by pesticides, have the most extensive use of chemical spray for pest control, particularly insects such as bollworms and whiteflies.

Alarmingly, the very few people who wear protective gear do so at their own risk because the cost, lack of access, or discomfort in hot conditions are experienced by almost everyone, and hence, a great number of people are exposed to the chemicals directly through inhalation and the skin. Besides, women and children who live close to the fields that are sprayed are also at risk of secondary exposure.

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Regulatory Gaps and Continued Availability

Although certain extremely dangerous pesticides have been banned or their use is restricted in some countries, these chemicals are still in great demand, commonly in local markets, and are sold under different brand names.

Besides that, overuse of pesticides also leads to air, water, and soil pollution, which then harms the overall ecosystem. Chemicals can also make the soil and water dirty, but they can contribute to the death of pollinators and other species that are not pests, reduce the fertility of the soil, and cause pest resistance. Unless there is strict control and safer alternatives, the problem of increasing chemical use will likely continue.

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Calls for Policy Action and Farmer Support

The essential measures that the experts have come up with refer to putting the sales of hazardous pesticide practices exposed in South Asia under strict regulation and enforcement, educating farmers on how to handle pesticides safely, gaining unrestricted access to Integrated Pest Management (IPM) practices, and improving the observation of the health effects related to pesticides.

While researchers caution about the risks, the need for more robust policies, farmers’ protection, and sustainable farming as the only way to assure the subsistence of both rural communities and the ecosystems has become more evident than ever.

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