Toxic Pesticides

For too long, the myth that synthetic toxic pesticides are indispensable for our agriculture has been spread by vested interests. These vested interests also defended highly toxic pesticides as those chemicals which are not toxic, or which have no effective alternatives etc. ASHA’s partners have shown that farming can indeed be done without the use of synthetic chemicals, including toxic pesticides. ASHA members have been threatened with legal notices multiple times by the pesticides industry bodies and representatives. This has not deterred us. We have produced ground level evidence of ill effects of pesticides by our fact-finding visits, and have also compiled information on toxic pesticides from the world over. We have advocated for a rigorous regulatory regime for synthetic pesticides in India, and have engaged with the Pesticides Management Bill closely over the years. A Supreme Court PIL seeking a ban on deadly pesticides has been filed by ASHA members.