MUMBAI: Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Sunday ordered strict action against the companies and their agents who sold non-licensed pesticides in Yavatmal and adjoining districts causing deaths of over 22 farmers due to pesticide poisoning.
“We have already formed a Special Investigation Team to probe the issue. Preliminary investigations have revealed that non-licensed pesticides have caused poisoning in farmers. Hence, I have released orders to take strong and strict action against the people selling unlicensed products and on the wholesalers who without verification supplied these pesticides and also on the companies who manufactured it,” Fadnavis said after his visit to farmers recuperating at the district hospital at Yavatmal.
Fadnavis who chaired a review meeting of health and agriculture officials to understand measures taken after the incidents of pesticide poisoning came to light, was told that the administration has distributed 8000 new kits to farmers and has started an extensive training programme.
Teams have been formed to conduct inspections at agriculture service centers to check unlicensed pesticides, the officials said.
Fadnavis directed the top officials to conduct workshops for farmers on good practices of fumigation.
If the spurious seeds and pesticides are coming in from other states, the administration should fix responsibility, form a standard operating procedure and act accordingly, the CM told the officials.
He also assured amendments in the legislation related to pesticides wherever needs to ensure strictest possible action.