Widespread malpractices involving harmful pesticides have led the Kerala government to ban on-farm demos and experiments performed on the sly by pesticide companies in farms in the State. Malpractices have been detected in almost all the districts, but it is especially rampant in the cardamom plantations in Idukki, Agriculture Minister V.S. Elsewhere, pesticide companies were found to have carried out unauthorised experiments. Earlier, the Agriculture Department had issued a circular stopping pesticide firms from approaching farmers directly to promote their products. Eventually it turned out that they were people assigned by pesticide dealers,” Mr. Sunil Kumar said.

Source: The Hindu June 21, 2020 18:00 UTC