Dhaka: The government has announced plans to impose restrictions on the sale and use of pesticides in seven haor-dominated districts during the upcoming Boro season. This move aims to safeguard fisheries and livestock in these regions.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the decision emerged from the second meeting of the Pesticide Technical Advisory Committee (PTAC), which convened at the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock’s conference room. The committee, a primary body for guiding pesticide control, emphasized the need for district and upazila pesticide technical advisory committees to regulate agricultural pesticide use.
Additionally, the government plans to mandate easy-to-understand instructions in Bengali on pesticide bottles and packets before they are marketed. Training and motivational programs for farmers in the haor region will also be implemented to promote the safe and appropriate use of pesticides.
Fisheries and Livestock Adviser Farida Akhter, who chaired the meeting, highlighted the excessive use of pesticides by farmers aiming for maximum yields during the Boro season. This practice poses a threat to fisheries and biodiversity in the haor region, necessitating urgent measures to control pesticide use.
Senior Secretary of the Ministry, Abu Tahir Muhammad Zaber, noted that harmful pesticides like Carbofuran have been banned due to their toxicity to birds, fish, and bees. He advocated for the use of bio-pesticides and alternative pest management systems.
Agriculture Secretary Dr. Mohammad Emdad Ullah Mian discussed the potential to significantly restrict pesticide use following the finalization of usage regulations. He noted that approximately 8,100 commercial brand pesticides under 335 generic categories are currently available in the country, all of which are imported.
The meeting concluded with a decision to focus on environmentally friendly options such as bio-pesticides, Integrated Pest Management (IPM), and Good Agricultural Practice (GAP). An action plan to control pesticide use in the haor region is expected to be implemented by January 31.
Senior officials from relevant ministries, agencies, and non-governmental organizations participated in the meeting to discuss the coordinated approach needed to protect the region’s biodiversity from the adverse effects of pesticides.