ri lt re and ood ana ement 8.37
crop yields and productivity. Fertilisers
PestIcIdes
which supplement micro nutrients can
provide an additional yield in cereals in Due to the presence of weeds, pests, diseases and
the range of 0.3 to 0.6 ton per hectare.45 rodents, the crop yield losses range from 15 to
This deficiency can be overcome if 25 per cent in India. Even though pesticides are
there by expansion in the use of organic essential for improving crop yields, per hectare
fertiliser. Besides, being cheaper to use pesticide use is much lower in India in comparison
organic composting and manure it can with other countries. Presently, India uses a low
help improve and retain soil fertility, amount of 0.5 kg per ha pesticide compared to
too., There is great scope for enhancing 7.0 kg per ha in the USA, 2.5 kg per ha in Europe,
the use of organic fertilisers as around 67 12 kg per ha in Japan and 6.6 kg per ha in Korea.
per cent of Indian soil is characterised by Besides, there are certain concerns regarding
low organic carbon. pesticides use in the country –
(iii) Nutrient Management: To maintain (i) Use of pesticides without following
soil health and productivity, judicious proper guidelines,
use of chemical fertilisers, bio-fertilisers (ii) Use of sub standard pesticides, and
and locally available organic manures (iii) Lack of awareness about pesticide use.
like farmyard manure, compost, vermi- These practices have given rise to pesticide
compost and green manure based on soil residues being found in food products in India,
testing is necessary. posing major threats to the environment and
With over 12 crore farm holdings in human beings. Some policy steps which may be
India, it is a big challenge to provide suggested in this regard are:
soil-testing facilities for overcoming the (i) Farmers need to be educated about the
multi-nutrient deficiencies in soils so as classification of insecticides on the basis
to improve agricultural output. Use of of their toxicity and their suitability for
information technology and providing aerial application.
soil fertility maps to farmers can go a long (ii) The CIBRC (Central Insecticide Board
way in efficient nutrient management. and Registration Committee) has
(iv) Regional disparity in fertilizer consumption: issued guidelines for the application
India has wide regional disparities in the of pesticides, their dosage, minimum
consumption of fertilizers. This may be intervals to be maintained, and the levels
attributed to the availability of irrigation of toxicity. This information needs to be
facilities in the high consuming states widely disseminated among farmers.
(since irrigation is a requirement for (iii) Greater focus on IPM (Integrated Pest
proper absorption of fertilizers). It Management) which will encompass a
is necessary to reduce the disparities judicious mix of pest control methods
through appropriate soil-testing facilities by leveraging the cultural, mechanical,
and other policy measures. biological methods and need-based use of
chemical pesticides. It gives preference to
45. As per the conducted by the Indian Council of
Agricultural Research (ICAR) – quoted by the the use of bio-pesticides and bio-control
Economic Survey 2015-16, Vol. 2, p.108. agents, too.