Valedictory ceremony held
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, October 10 2023:
The valedictory ceremony of the awareness cum training programme on 'Safe use of chemical pesticides for consumer safety' organised by ICAR Research Centre from October 5 was held today at ICAR Manipur Centre, Lamphelpat.
During the ceremony, Dr Romila Akoijam, Entomology Scientist, ICAR Manipur Centre delivered a lecture on the programme topic while Dr Arati Ningombam, Entomology Scientist spoke on "Impact of climate change on insects and their management" .
Speaking in this connection, Dr Arati Ningombam said that the programme was conducted with the objective of explaining the benefits and adverse effects of chemical pesticides and teaching the safe and proper ways to use them to the public in general and farmers in particular.
Chemical pesticides are necessary to combat the numerous pests that infest crops.
However, there is a safe way to use these chemicals, she said.
If these chemical pesticides enter our food chain, they have the potential to cause various health hazards.
She added that the programme had also discussed the results of prolonged exposure to these chemicals via food consumption to human health.
Further, she advised people to exercise great caution while using household insecticides.
There are different types of household insecticides, ones that are approved by the Central Insecticides Board and Registration Committee and those that are not approved.
Experts make their recommendations based on this categorization, she said.
Making a notable point, she highlighted that the active ingredients used in Godzilla (mosquito coil) that is imported from Myanmar are not included in the list of insecticides in the Insecticide Schedule.
She maintained that sub-lethal doses of these chemicals may not cause death but poses great health risks including the potential for causing cancer and severe damage to the lungs.
Thus, recognizing these health hazards, manufacture, sale and use of Godzilla is prohibited in India.
But, being a neighbour to Myanmar, Godzilla is sold and popularly used in Manipur.
Pointing to its health risks, she strongly advised people against using this product.
The awareness cum training programme was attended by roughly 30 people from different regions of both the hills and valley of Manipur.