Home ›› 21 Jan 2023 ›› Front
The government has decided to ban the import, promotion, and use of carbofuran pesticides in the country for being harmful to humans and other animals.
The ban will come into effect from next June, according to a circular issued by the agriculture ministry.
Citing the World Health Organization (WHO), the ministry circular said the toxicity of carbofuran is harmful to animals including humans. Hence, the renewal, import and use of registered carbofuran products will be banned from next June.
The government issued the ban order under the powers given in Sections 15, 18, 19 of the ‘Pesticides Act-2018’ and other related sections and the ‘Pesticides Rules, 1985’.
According to WHO, carbofuran is a broad-spectrum carbamate insecticide, acaricide and nematicide that is used worldwide to protect food crops from insects. The technical product contains a minimum of 95% carbofuran.
It is the most widely used pesticide in Bangladesh and is sold in at least 255 different brand names.
According to WHO, most people die in Bangladesh due to heart disease and stroke, one of the main causes of which is food poisoning.
Agriculturalist Dr M Monir Uddin said, “Currently many farmers use pesticides from the beginning of cultivation to protect crops from insects or diseases. Pesticides are used several times on the same crop as a preventive measure to prevent insects or diseases from attacking the crop, which increases the cost of production. At the same time, the effect of the pesticide on the crop remains and pollutes the environment with health risks.
Currently, there are more than 500 chemical pesticides and 43 organic pesticide companies registered in the country.
