Financial Daily from THE HINDU group of publications
Saturday, Feb 25, 2006
Financial Daily from THE HINDU group of publications Saturday, Feb 25, 2006 |
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Agri-Biz & Commodities
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Pesticides Industry & Economy - Social Welfare Call against NGOs for opposing pesticides use Our Bureau
Hyderabad , Feb. 24 Agro chemicals industry and a farmers' federation are up in arms against non-governmental organisations like Green Peace for spreading "unfounded fears" on the ill-effects of use of pesticides on human beings. Addressing a press conference here on Thursday, Mr Rajju Shroff, Chairman and Managing Director of United Phosphorous Ltd, Mr R.G. Aggarwal, Chairman of Crop Care Federation of India (CCFI), and Mr P. Chengal Reddy, Chairman of Federation of Farmers' Associations (FFA), said some NGOs were opposing use of pesticides to protect the interests of some vested interests. They were misguiding the farmers and playing mischief, while farmers were benefiting. They, however, admitted to the fact there was improper use of chemicals. The CCFI, which represented agrochemical industry in the country, and Agrochemicals Promotion Group, an association of 200 crop protection companies, said they would take legal action against Green Peace for causing unwarranted health scare in Warangal. They were referring to a study conducted by the NGO that alleged retarded mental development of children following use of pesticides by cotton farmers. Denying the allegations, they said a counter study conducted by a Hyderabad-based NGO, Parirakshana, had provided that there were no such ill effects on children. Dr Venugopal Rao, who represented Parirakshana, gave a clean chit to the agricultural industry. The study, commissioned by the FFA, covered four villages in the two districts of Warangal and Medak. "About 141 children were studied and we found that there was no difference in their IQ levels," he asserted. Mr Chengal Reddy said the real issues were proper extension of services to the farmers, control of spurious pesticides and effective linkages. Scoffing at the concerted campaigns against pesticides, Mr Rajju Shroff said there were huge opportunities for improving farm productivity. "But the biggest problem is environmentalists," he said.
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