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China sprayers causing health hazards
The sprayers from China have become health hazard sometimes causing death to cotton and paddy farmers, who prefer these over locally available non-hazardous sprayers.
Kothagudem: The sprayers from China have become health hazard sometimes causing death to cotton and paddy farmers, who prefer these over locally available non-hazardous sprayers. Side effects of using the China sprayers in the state in general and Bhadradri-Kothagudem district in particular are, many. Three farmers died in erstwhile Adilabad district recently due to the adverse effect of these sprayers.
It is pertinent to note that the China sprayer has claimed lives of at least 20 farmers in two months in Yavatmal district of Vidarbha region in Maharashtra. A farmer Tari Upatayya (25) of Woodyard colony Lakshmipuram panchayat of Burgampahad mandal died because of the china sprayer use. There were reports of at least 20 farmers getting indisposed upon the use of the China sprayers in Tekulacheruvu, Uppusaka and Lakshmipuram came to light.
Use of the sprayers to save their cotton and paddy crops spraying more quantity of the pesticide in relatively less time proved to be the bane of the farmers. In Kothagudem district, cotton is being cultivated in 1.45 lakh hectares and paddy in 1.05 lakh hectares.Farmers apply pesticides using the sprays. The locally available hand pump-spray enables farmer to apply pesticide to a maximum of two or three acres a day as against the 16 acres upon using the China sprayers.
Farmers believe that the application of the pesticide forcefully enables the pests that attacked the stem, leaves and top portion will die immediately. Not only did the farmer become a victim using the China sprayers but also labourers are exposed to health hazards of the pesticide affecting the eye-sight. There were instances of out-of- court settlements reached with the bereaved families in case of the death of a farmer due to exposure to the pesticide using the china sprayers.
Agriculture department officials advocate caution and ask the farmers to adopt precautions to save their lives. They advise farmers to tie a cloth across faces to prevent inhalation of the hazardous pesticide. Moreover, they want the farmers and agriculture workers to use protective kit to save themselves. It was high-time the farmers became aware of the use of the China sprayers.
By PV Satyanarayana
