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The Bengal Chamber of Commerce & Industry, HIL and Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture organise programme on Safe Uses of Pesticides

by IBNS 26 Jan 2017, 06:48 am

Kolkata, Jan 25 (IBNS): The Bengal Chamber of Commerce & Industry (BCC&I), Indias oldest institution of its kind tracing its origins to 1833, organised a one-day Workshop on Safe Uses of Pesticides, in association with Hindustan Insecticides Limited (HIL).

Arup Roy (Hon’ble Minister-in-Charge, Department of Cooperation, Govt. of West Bengal) was present on this occasion.    
 
Satyabrata Mukherjee (Chairperson - Agriculture & Rural Development Committee, The Bengal Chamber); Ajeet Verma (Manager - Seed Production, Hindustan Insecticides Limited); R.K. Mondal (Deputy General Manager, Agriculture & Processed Food Products Export Development Authority - APEDA); Sain Dass (Scientist, Hindustan Insecticides Limited), Pranab Chatterjee (Ex Prof. Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya) were present among others.
 
Satyabrata Mukherjee (Chairperson - Agriculture & Rural Development Committee, The Bengal Chamber), drew attention towards a wide range of human health hazards caused by unsafe use of pesticide. “It may cause health hazards ranging from short-term impacts such as headaches and nausea to chronic impacts like cancer, reproductive harm, and endocrine disruption. Acute dangers - such as nerve, skin, and eye irritation and damage, headaches, dizziness, nausea, fatigue, and systemic poisoning - can sometimes be dramatic, and even occasionally fatal,” he said.

He also advised farmers, “The discharge from the sprayer should be directed away from the body. Leaking equipment should be repaired and the skin should be washed after any accidental contamination.”

“Purchase pesticides/bio-pesticides only from registered pesticide dealers having valid license and do not purchase pesticides from unlicensed persons. Special precautions must be taken during transport, storage and handling. Spray equipment should be regularly cleaned and maintained to prevent leaks. People who work with pesticides should receive proper training in their safe use,” said Arup Roy (Hon’ble Minister-in-Charge, Department of Cooperation, Govt. of West Bengal).