7 months ago
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A caller study by Pesticide Action Network Asia Pacific (PANAP) has documented wide pesticide usage and vulnerability among farmers successful Bangladesh, India, Laos and Vietnam, with India showing the highest proportionality of highly hazardous pesticides (HHPs). The findings are portion of ‘From the Ground Up: Documenting Pesticide Use successful Bangladesh, India, Laos & Vietnam (2025)’, based connected responses from 4,392 farmers crossed the 4 countries.
According to the report, 3,825 respondents, 87.09% of those surveyed, said they usage pesticides. The study identified 96 antithetic pesticides successful total, and 58% of these were classified arsenic highly hazardous. India accounted for the highest proportion, with 29 of the 41 pesticides utilized successful the state falling into this category, representing 70.73%.
The survey covered 1,993 respondents successful India, including 1,485 from Yavatmal district successful Maharashtra, which has antecedently drawn attraction for pesticide-related deaths. The report said, “Since 2017, Yavatmal has gained nationalist and section media attraction owed to a bid of pesticide-related deaths and hospitalisations resulting from occupational vulnerability successful fabric fields.” Official reports from that twelvemonth recorded implicit 450 cases of pesticide poisoning and 23 fatalities.
Farmers in Yavatmal predominantly cultivate cotton and soybeans, often utilizing ineligible and amerciable pesticides arsenic portion of their harvest calendar. The study notes that diafenthiuron, a pesticide linked to earlier poisoning cases, continues to beryllium used. It cites interviews with affected families and said, “Exposure to diafenthiuron caused terrible wellness impacts, with galore farmers experiencing impermanent blindness and unconsciousness lasting respective days.”
Across each countries surveyed, 3,369 respondents said they use oregon spray pesticides themselves, and 2,619 reported exposures through crushed spraying. Nearly 1,712 respondents unrecorded little than one kilometre from sprayed fields, expanding the hazard of secondary exposure. Glyphosate emerged as the most commonly reported pesticide, cited 828 times crossed husbandman responses, contempt being banned successful Vietnam successful 2019.
In India, thiamethoxam and carbofuran were among the most frequently reported chemicals, with carbofuran classified arsenic “highly hazardous” nether WHO Class Ib (highly hazardous). Other chemicals identified include WHO Class Ia (extremely hazardous) and Ib pesticides specified arsenic bromadiolone, diphacinone, methyl parathion, abamectin, and monocrotophos.
Unsafe practices were wide reported. A full of 1,111 respondents re-entered fields 1 time aft spraying, portion 964 returned the aforesaid day. During windy conditions, 2,036 farmers sprayed on upwind absorption and 1,262 sprayed without guidance, raising concerns astir pesticide drifts. Personal protective instrumentality (PPE) usage was inconsistent. The report stated, “Approximately 40% of farmers reported not utilizing PPE, with the highest proportionality observed successful India.” Among those who utilized PPE, look masks and long-sleeved shirts were astir common, but the study noted, “Surgical masks, which are commonly used, bash not comply with planetary guidelines for pesticide spraying.”
Gendered exposure was besides highlighted. Of the 4,392 respondents, 1,183 were women and 3,141 men. While men were much apt to spray pesticides, women were often progressive successful washing apparel and instrumentality aft spraying, which increases indirect exposure. The study records that 2,424 (55%) respondents had not received immoderate grooming connected pesticide handling, storage, or disposal. Storage wrong homes was reported by 1,338 respondents and burning of containers by 1,478 respondents. Washing aft vulnerability often occurred successful watercourses oregon irrigation drains, posing contamination risks.
Common symptoms aft vulnerability included headaches, reported by 868 respondents, and dizziness, reported by 837. In suspected poisoning cases, 1,815 respondents sought assistance from household members, portion 428 contacted section doctors. The study besides notes that immoderate farmers reuse pesticide containers for household purposes, including nutrient storage, which tin pb to poisoning.
The study included testimonies from farmers who person shifted to safer practices. A pistillate husbandman from Vietnam said, “Before 2019, galore families successful our commune utilized paraquat and glyphosate to termination weeds connected java plantations. However, from 2021 onwards, we person not utilized the supra progressive ingredients. When trained and discussed by the project, we utilized weed cutters and accepted tools specified arsenic weed knives and hoes to chopped and weed alternatively of utilizing chemicals.”
PANAP Executive Director Sarojeni Rengam said, “Each signifier has contributed to increasing planetary designation of the urgent request to signifier retired highly hazardous pesticides.” The report urged the governments to phase out highly hazardous pesticides, bring stricter enforcement against amerciable products, and promotion of agroecological alternatives. It besides calls for wide statement accusation successful section languages, husbandman grooming connected harmless handling and disposal, and entree to PPE that meets FAO/WHO standards.
