Media Coverage Report

CropLife India’s views on the

Maharashtra Crisis

Farmer deaths in Maharashtra – are

pesticides responsible?

CropLife India urges Government for a

detailed investigation

Coverage Table

S. No. Publication Headline Edition

1. The Times of India No role in deaths due to pesticides: Indl associations

Online & Nagpur Print

2. Rashtra Prakash Are pesticides responsible for the deaths of farmers?

Nagpur Print

3. Yug Dharma Investigation required death due to pesticides

Nagpur Print

4. Mahasagar Are pesticides responsible for the deaths of farmers?

Nagpur Print

5. Yuvarashtradarshan Are pesticides responsible for the deaths of farmers?

Nagpur Print

6. Dainik Bhaskar Detailed investigation required for death of farmers

Nagpur Print

7. Nagpur Post Farmer deaths in Maharashtra – are pesticides responsible?

Nagpur Print

8. Punyanagari Farmer deaths in Maharashtra – are pesticides responsible?

Nagpur Print

9. National Sandesh Are pesticides responsible for the deaths of farmers?

Nagpur Print

10. Khabar Farmer deaths in Maharashtra – are pesticides responsible? CropLife India urges Government for a detailed investigation

Nagpur Print

Publication The Times of India

Date 22nd November 2017

Edition Nagpur

Publication The Times of India

Date 22nd November 2017

Edition Online

Hyperlink

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/no-role-in-deaths-due-to-pesticides-indl-associations/articleshow/61745094.cms

No role in deaths due to pesticides: Indl associations

Snehlata Shrivastav | TNN | Nov 22, 2017, 05:43 IST

Nagpur: The seed and pesticide producing industrial associations have claimed that they are

not responsible for the deaths due to pesticide inhalation.

The Special Investigation Team (SIT) is already in the final stages of preparing its report on the

cause of deaths of farmers and farm labourers in Yavatmal and other part parts Vidarbha.

In a letter to Maharashtra principal secretary (agriculture) Bijay Kumar dated November 8, the

National Seed Association of India (NSAI) said since the government was registering cases

against seed dealers and companies over the damage caused due to pink bollworm in cotton.

Hence, the association wanted to clarify that maintaining the 'trait' (Bt gene) purity in any seed

was the responsibility of the trait developer (which happens to be Mahyco-Monsanto). It said

maintaining the gene purity by breeding the seedings, which are sold to the farmers, is the

responsibility of the seed company.

The letter written by Kalyan Goswami reads, "It may be kindly noted that if the seed lot does not

have minimum gene purity as per the standards specified, only then the seed company is liable.

Once the seed lots meet the minimum standard of gene purity, there cannot be any further

responsibility on the seed company with reference to efficacy of the Bt trait."

The letter says there are unfound allegations that the refugia seeds are of bad quality.

According to the government's regulation, refugia seeds must have maximum of 5% seeds with

Bt gene. Only a very minute percentage of tested seeds may not fulfil this criteria for which only

the company concerned must be held responsible. Therefore, the damage of pink bollworm or

development of resistance cannot be attributed to the seed quality, it says.

Crop Life India (CLI), an organization of pesticide manufacturers including companies

like Bayer, Syngenta, Dow, BASF, Rallies India, SMC Corporation, Excel Industries etc,

stated in a release issued to TOI that it urges SIT for a detailed case-by-case fact-based

scientific investigation to arrive at the exact cause(s).

CLI CEO Brij Uberoi said the pesticides were brought into the market after lot of

research. "Pesticides are safe to use unless ingested," he said. He also insisted that with

over 99% dilution with water, the pesticides don't kill due to inhalation.

"Pesticides are being used throughout the country.

Why is it that deaths are concentrated only in Yavatmal district and some other parts of

Vidarbha? We want to know what else is responsible for these deaths and how," Uberoi

said.

The release claims that the members have been engaged in educating farmers on the

right use of pesticides, including the use of personal protective gear by the user.

Publication Rashtra Prakash

Date 23rd November 2017

Edition Nagpur

Publication Yug Dharma

Date 23rd November 2017

Edition Nagpur

Publication Mahasagar

Date 24th November 2017

Edition Nagpur

Publication Yuvarashtradarshan

Date 24th November 2017

Edition Nagpur

Publication Dainik Bhaskar

Date 25th November 2017

Edition Nagpur

Publication Nagpur Post

Date 28th November 2017

Edition Nagpur

Publication Punyanagari

Date 30th November 2017

Edition Nagpur

Publication National Sandesh

Date 28th November 2017

Edition Nagpur

Publication Khabar

Date 30th November 2017

Edition Nagpur