Use of Pesticides in Agriculture by Different Categories of Farmer in Punjab

A study was conducted to know about the use, pattern of pesticide application, reasons for using non recommended pesticides at higher doses and the suggestions to tackle this issue. It was found that the average consumption of pesticides in Punjab agriculture was 0.53 kg/ha in1974-75 which increased to 0.94 kg/ha of gross cropped area in1994-95. It might have occurred due to severe pest attack on cotton crop in the state during that period but it declined to 0.73 kg/ha in the year 2010–11. Thereafter, no increase in pesticide consumption in the state was noticed up to the year 2015–16 rather it remained stagnant. Among the various crops, the per cent area being treated by pesticides was calculated to be high in cotton (98.4%) followed by sugarcane (96.3%), paddy (93.6%) and wheat (91.7%) while per cent area was calculated to be lowest in case of maize crop (71.1%). The expenditure on pesticides usage was more or less same in three zones of Punjab during rabi season but was different in kharif season with maximum in zone II (Rs. 5728/-ha) followed by zone III (Rs. 5163/-ha) and zone I (Rs.4000/-ha). Thirty four per cent of the total sampled farmers were found to be using the recommended doses of pesticides. Amongst the various reasons cited by the farmers for using higher doses of pesticides, spurious quality of pesticides has emerged as the main reason, 100 per cent of the farmers were of the view that pesticide usage should decline in the state because of the ill effects of pesticides on the human and animal health. Fifty per cent of the total sampled farmers suggested that quality of the pesticides must be ensured for effective control of pests/diseases while 26 per cent were in favour of developing new formulations of better quality than existing ones.