Sale of pesticides should be banned in Meghalaya: Addl. CS

By Our Reporter, TNT News | Shillong, May 22, 2018:

Additional Chief Secretary, KN Kumar has mooted the idea on the need to totally ban the sale of pesticides in Meghalaya to keep a check on the decline of honey bees population in the State.

"The decline in the population of honeybees is not restricted to Meghalaya. This problem is also being face by Punjab, Kerala, Maharashtra and many others States in the country. Reports suggest that honey bees population is declining across the globe and even in our state due to indiscriminate use of pesticides," Kumar said while addressing the during the "World Honeybee Day Day 2018" which was held at All Saints Hall here today.

Additional Chief Secretary stated that scientific studies have proves that the use of neonicotinoid insecticides has led to the decline of honey bees, wildbees and other pollinators.

"No doubt that Meghalaya is a low pesticides consumption compared to other States in the country. But usage of this pesticides will led to decline of honeybees in the State," Kumar said.

Making a reference to decision of the Government to subside the usage of pesticide by the farmers, he said that the Government in the past use to give money to the farmers to buy the pesticide from the vendors.

"It was such a wrong a decision. But now we have been able stop this despite some initial hiccups. But the Government has never ban the sale of pesticide in the private sector," Additional Chief Secretary observed.

He, however, said that there is need to stop the sale of pesticides even by the vendors and also ban the sale of all kind of pesticides.

Kumar further observed that the use of pesticides is not only injurious to the bees, it is only also injurious to the health of human beings.

"Punjab is the State with the highest consumption of pesticides in the country has the highest incidence of cancer. Pesticides usage and consumption is directly correlated to the incidence of cancer. We have to completely ban the sale of pesticides in the country," Additional Chief Secretary said.

Kumar also suggested on the need to have the State Agricultural Research Institution to conduct a systematic research on the local problems in the field of agriculture and its allied sectors.

According to the Additional Chief Secretary, institution like ICAR has never able to solve the problem which is state specific.

Kumar also suggested on the need to establish the Meghalaya Honey Bee Board since honey production can bring such valuable things to the State through valuable foreign exchange.

He further suggested on the need to launched the honey bee mission in order to increase the volume of production of honey in the state.

"The Meghalaya Honey Bee Board would be responsible to look after the implementation of the honey bee mission," Kumar added.

While appreciating the suggestion made by the Additional Chief Secretary, Agriculture Minister Banteidor Lyngdoh said that creation of the Meghalaya Honey Bee Board is very crucial for the growth of honey bee production in the State.

He said that the board would also be tasked with the responsibilities to address the problems faced by the farmers who are involved in bee rearing.

Stating that bee rearing has started to grow in the State, Agriculture Minister however emphasized on the need to improve the packaging of honey produce in the State to help the farmers fetch a better price.

"We will look to address the issue of packaging of honey through the proposed honeybee mission," Lyngdoh said.

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