A study of three villages in Himachal
Pradesh has found an alarming increase in pesticides use, and associated health
and environmental problems. Dr Gopal Singh spent time in Jigala, Jhiri and Jater,
villages representative of the Banjar and Kullu valleys, looking at reasons for
changes in traditional land use patterns, chemicals used in the area, the
adverse impact of chemicals on farmer and community health and also problems in
the crop production. Farmers are growing high yielding varieties of food crops and fruit bearing trees, and vegetable cultivation is increasing. Apple tree cultivation has been encouraged, but these are particularly susceptible to a variety of pests and diseases and it is now thought they are unsuitable to grow in the area.
The government subsidises pesticides to the tune of 50% for marginal and small farmers and 30% for larger farmers, thus further encouraging use. Privately-owned shops also sell direct to the farmers. The government supplies are often uncoordinated, and not available until after they are needed, so farmers are forced to buy from the private dealers: unfortunately this seems to hit the large farmers less and they take advantage of subsidies, while poorer farmers pay the full price. Even so, farmers claim that pesticides are ineffective but their farming systems have become dependent on use.
All three villages are highly aware of the health problems suffered from spraying, citing headaches (over 94%), vomiting (13-20%), stomach pains (over 40%), dysentery (40-52%), eye problems (26-40%) and in all villages over 46% suffered respiratory and breathing difficulties, weakness and generalised body pain. All these symptoms are consistent with the high use of organophosphate pesticides in the area.