How imminent ban on 27 pesticides will affect Punjab, and what alternatives farmers have
(WorldNews India)

The long-pending ban on 27 widely-used pesticides, which includes 12 insecticides, 8 fungicides and 7 herbicides, is poised to take final shape soon, with the Centre having already issued a draft order banning the manufacturing and sale of these on grounds of the grave risk they pose to humans and animals. The Indian Express explains what alternatives are available for farmers if such a ban is imposed, and how effective they will be: How much pesticide is used in Punjab as compared to the rest of the country? Punjab has just 1.53 per cent of the country’s area while pesticide usage stood at 9.2 per cent of the country in 2018-19 and over 8 per cent in 2019-20. According to the...