Dozens of countries have banned hazardous pesticides. In India, many remain in use, fuelling a growing battle over public health, farm economics and corporate accountability.
The use of hazardous agrochemicals continues to spark concerns over farmer safety, regulation and public health. (Representative image)
The official figures tabled in the Rajasthan Assembly have exposed what many describe as a "white-collar poison" being sprayed across India's farmlands. This is no ordinary issue. Critics argue that it reflects a systemic crisis in which pesticides claimed the lives of 535 farmers in Rajasthan in just two years.
But this tragedy is far from new.
The bloody harvest of profit built on human suffering has been flourishing in Indian fields for decades. In Kerala's Kasaragod district, aerial spraying of Endosulfan left generations physically disabled and mentally impaired, creating one of the country's worst public health disasters.
In 2017, more than 20 cotton farmers in Maharashtra's Yavatmal died after being exposed to toxic agrochemicals while spraying their crops. Their deaths remain a stark reminder of a regulatory system that many believe has failed to protect those who feed the nation.
Yet despite these dark chapters, Paraquat Dichloride—a herbicide with no known antidote—and Glyphosate, a chemical linked to millions of lawsuits and cancer allegations globally, continue to be sold widely across India.
While pesticide manufacturers continue to fill their coffers, farmers are paying with their lives. The recent 60-day ban imposed on Paraquat by the Andhra Pradesh government suggests that concerns have reached a tipping point.
The bigger question is this: when 74 countries have already deemed Paraquat Dichloride too dangerous and banned it, why are hundreds of metric tonnes of the chemical still being sprayed on Indian soil every year? Why do governments appear so helpless in the face of these merchants of death?
FARMERS RISE AGAINST TOXIC CHEMICALS
Farmers Rise Against Toxic Chemicals
The harmful impact of pesticides is not limited to Rajasthan. Across India, hazardous agrochemicals continue to be sold and used extensively. While companies earn substantial profits, both farmers and consumers are increasingly exposed to potential health risks.
Recognising the seriousness of the threat posed by Paraquat Dichloride, the Andhra Pradesh government recently imposed a 60-day ban on its use. Before Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Odisha and Kerala had also introduced temporary restrictions on the chemical.
However, state governments can only impose such bans for limited periods. As a result, demands for a permanent nationwide prohibition are now growing louder.
Recently, Rampal Jat, National President of Kisan Mahapanchayat, wrote to the Rajasthan government seeking a ban on Paraquat Dichloride. He argued that the purpose of agriculture is to provide healthy food, not food contaminated with dangerous chemicals.
"The objective of farming is to nourish people, not poison them," Jat said, adding that hazardous chemicals used in agriculture inevitably enter the food chain.
In a memorandum addressed to the Chief Minister, Kisan Mahapanchayat described Paraquat Dichloride as an extremely toxic chemical capable of causing severe damage to the lungs, kidneys and liver. The organisation called for an immediate ban and questioned how a chemical prohibited in more than 70 countries continues to be allowed in India.
HOW MUCH IS BEING USED?
The widespread use of a chemical whose mere droplets can prove fatal—and for which no antidote exists anywhere in the world—raises troubling questions.
If 74 countries have already banned Paraquat because of its toxicity, why are more than 100 metric tonnes of it reportedly being used in Indian agriculture every year? Why has such a dangerous chemical not yet been prohibited nationwide? And what does this say about the value placed on public health?
The Pesticide Lobby
The extreme toxicity of Paraquat Dichloride has prompted many developed and developing countries to ban it altogether. Among them are France, Germany, Italy, Sweden, Austria, Denmark, China, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, South Korea, Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, Taiwan, Brazil, Sri Lanka, Chile and Peru.
Yet in India, the chemical remains in widespread use.
Since Andhra Pradesh imposed its recent ban, concerns have reportedly grown within segments of the agrochemical industry. Critics allege that industry groups are now deploying their political and economic influence to ensure that other states do not follow Andhra Pradesh's example, allowing a highly profitable business to continue despite mounting public health concerns.
Why Does Paraquat Remain So Popular?
One reason for Paraquat's continued presence in Indian agriculture is its effectiveness.
Faced with labour shortages and rising wage costs, many farmers see it as a cheap and quick solution that can destroy weeds within hours.
Unlike in many developed countries, h…
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