Cardamom growers resort to use of banned pesticides

Toxic pesticides brought to plantations from Tamil Nadu

January 06, 2018 07:08 pm | Updated 07:08 pm IST - IDUKKI

Cardamom growers are increasingly using the banned red-labelled pesticides following a hike in prices and reduced checking on the border with Tamil Nadu post GST (Goods and Services Tax).

Hundreds of vehicles bring workers from Tamil Nadu every day who carry the banned pesticides to plantations in the High Ranges. The government has banned 16 chemical pesticides in red and yellow categories in addition to seven others for restricted use in the State. However, these are not banned in the neighbouring State.

An official of the Agriculture Department said it was difficult for them to keep a check on its use as they were taken secretly to the plantations. Moreover, in spite of campaigns, farmers continued to use them anticipating an increase in production. “It is true that banned pesticides are used when there is an upward trend in prices. This is for getting maximum benefit and increasing production,” he said. The average price of cardamom is ₹1,000 a kg now.

The official said they were carrying out checks at pesticide outlets. However, it is not easy to detect it as these are taken to the plantations in fake bottles.

The main outlets are at Cumbom and Bodinaikanur in Tamil Nadu. It is difficult for officials here to prevent the sale of the toxic pesticides there. Hundreds of taxi jeeps bring workers to the plantations and checking all of them would be a difficult task. The workers are also being used as carriers of banned pesticides.

A few days back, some plantation workers were admitted to a hospital with respiratory problems, suspected to be caused due to inhaling a highly toxic pesticide that was sprayed at a plantation at Thalakulam in Santhapra village. Beisdes the pollution of water sources, the use of re-labelled pesticides destroys the living organisms in the soil, said the official.

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