Imphal, September 21 2010: More than 50 brands of insecticides, pesticides, fungicides, etc.

are available for farmers' use in Manipur.

This is inspite of the fact that harmful impact of uncontrolled use of these chemicals is common knowledge.

The increase in the use of insecticides would result in harmful environmental consequences due to the toxins found in a majority of insect-killing chemicals not only both for human and animal health, according to experts.

While the exact cause of diseases in plant crops is still unidentified, farmers apply any kinds of insecticides or pesticides recommended by dealers.

Dealers in their turn recommend any brand available with them, experts opined.

In Manipur, Agriculture Department is the licensing authority of insecticide and pesticide dealers.

The department also controls the import of these items.

But, they do not take the initiative to heck import of insecticides, pesticides, fungicides, growth hormones etc.

in the state.

The authority gives a free hand in importing these items in the state even though there is a definite rule that dealers should consult with the experts of the department before the chemical they import is distributed to the farmers.

Asserting that the department is the controlling authority, an official said "actually dealers should distribute only certified insecticide, pesticides, fungicides, growth hormones, etc.

to the farmers." These chemicals need laboratory tests, he added.

The insecticide testing laboratory of the department is functioning only in namesake without having any equipment suited with the time.

A top official of the department also expressed concern over the uncontrolled import of these items and expressed unhappiness that even though the dealers are to go hand in hand with the department, it has not happened in Manipur.

Many of the dealers, particularly from the interior areas both in the hill and the valley have not renewed their licenses.

Inspectors of the department who are expected to inspect the dealers are engaged in other official assignments, he added.

It is mandatory to enter a laboratory test for insecticides or pesticides or other chemicals of these kinds to confirm the ingredients and levels of the chemicals before distributing to farmers, said Senior Assistant Professor, Khumukcham Ibohal, Department of Entomology, Central Agricultural University.

He also observed that no formulation analysis was conducted on any of the chemicals available in the state.

For the University, he said, no chemicals were recommended to farmers for application without laboratory analysis.

There is no official record on the quantity of insecticides, pesticides, fungicides and plant growth hormones imported into the state.

But an independent survey conducted by a student of the Central Agricultural University, Imphal estimated that around 200 metric tonnes of different brands of these chemicals were imported into the state annually.

In 2001, he estimated that metric tones were imported.

As per the Insecticide Act 1968 which is also in force in Manipur, the state government should conduct a regular checking of the dealers.

They are also to be given training from time to time.

The post of Deputy Director (Plant Protection) which should take the main responsibility in enforcing the Act has been eliminated and the charge has been handed over to a lower ranked Agriculture Officer who has been designated as Plant Protection officer.

According to pathologist, Dr Thoithoi, Thoubal Krishi Kendra observed that most of the farmers are not using insecticides, pesticides, and fungicides in a proper manner.

Only 2% of the farmers know the proper use of these chemicals, he added.

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