Source: Hindustan Times, New Delhi, Oct 18, 2017:- Last week, the Maharashtra government registered a police
complaint against three pesticide companies and Krishi Seva Kendras (agro-input
centres) for selling pesticides not recommended for the region after 32 farmers
from Vidarbha died of poisoning. The agriculture department, which is
responsible for educating farmers about pesticides, found highly toxic and
expensive ones were being sold to unsuspecting farmers by the firms to earn
profits. While the deaths indicate failure of the department itself, the
genesis of the crisis dates back to the time of the Green Revolution in the
1960s when the need was felt to sharply increase crop productivity to ensure
food security. This problem --- increase in the use of pesticides --- is not an
India-specific problem: Since 1950, population has doubled, yet the area of
arable land used to feed these people has increased by only 10%.