• "Food Matters Newsletter, June 2013....."
  • "Details of some resource persons on organic farming, state-wise".
  • Pesticides like Mancozeb and Captan, classified as Probable Human Carcinogen (US EPA) continue in India.
  • India has 67 pesticides that have been banned or restricted in other countries.
  • Nearly 40% of pesticides registered in India belong to Class I and Class II WHO categories of acute toxicity.
  • Studies show that less than 0.1% of pesticides for pest control fall on target insects. Rest dissipates into the atmosphere, contaminating our resources.
  • Farming can indeed be done profitably without synthetic pesticides – research proves this; experience on millions of acres shows this.
  • In Andhra Pradesh, 1000s of farmers have adopted Non Pesticidal Management of crops through a government programme called Community Managed Sustainable Agriculture.

India For Safe Food...

...is a movement for change amongst Indian farmers, consumers and the government to ensure that all Indians have access to safe food, devoid of toxic substances. This movement is being spearheaded by ASHA (Alliance for Sustainable & Holistic Agriculture), an informal network of hundreds of organizations and individuals across twenty states of India and we consider you to be part of this movement!

The Latest Updates

Pesticides killing sarus crane in Gondia

February 20, 2017 03:23 AM

 

Nagpur: Lack of awareness among locals and particularly failure of the forest department and district administration to take corrective steps is taking toll on sarus cranes in Gondia-Balaghat districts.

 

Read More

Excessive pesticide use damaging the flowers

February 19, 2017 11:27 AM

 

VISAKHAPATNAM: Even though mango orchards in the district are in full bloom, excessive use of fungicides and pesticides by lease holders is proving to be a threat to the flowers.

 

Read More

LIVES, NOT JUST BUSINESS, AT STAKE

January 26, 2017 09:32 AM

 

India must take stock of the pesticides under use and ensure that they are replaced by less hazardous products and better integrated pest management approaches. It must take a leaf out of the US’ book in checking harmful chemicals.

 

Read More

Pesticide Use Can Cause Diabetes: Scientists Sound Warning

January 24, 2017 09:39 AM

 

A team of scientists have found links between use of pesticides and the high prevalence of diabetes in India. They have suggested that view of the high occurrence of diabetes in India, the use of OP (organophosphate) pesticides should be reconsidered. The team - which had been conducting the research in rural areas of South India - suggests that if people are continuously exposed common OP pesticides like Malathion and Chlorpyrifos, they can get diabetes even when they do not have the other risk factors.

 

Read More

How pesticide got into midday meal, killed 23 Bihar kids

January 23, 2017 09:28 AM

 

The Bihar Police was put under “tremendous pressure” to establish foul play in the deaths of 23 schoolchildren in the Gandaman primary school midday meal tragedy, but its investigations showed only “criminal negligence” on the part of the school principal, the officer in charge of the probe told The Indian Express.

 

Read More

Effects of Endosulfan devastating: SC

January 11, 2017 02:46 AM

 

The Hindu, 10 Jan 2017

Asks Kerala government to release the entire compensation amount to over 5,000 victims. Describing the effects of Endosulfan as “devastating,” the Supreme Court on Tuesday directed the Kerala government to release the entire compensation to over 5,000 victims, mostly newborns, and their families in three months. A three-judge Bench led by Chief Justice of India J.S. Khehar said the State of Kerala can initiate legal proceedings to recover the compensation money from pesticide companies responsible for the production and sale of the highly controversial but cheap agrochemical. The apex court said the State government can also approach the Central government.

 

Read More

Pesticide payout

January 10, 2017 09:26 AM

 

The Supreme Court today ordered the Kerala government to pay Rs 500 crore within three months to over 5,000 people who lost family members or suffered deformities and other health complications from the use of endosulfan pesticides.

 

Read More

Centre to ban use of 18 pesticides harmful to humans and animals

January 08, 2017 09:41 AM

 

NEW DELHI: Acting on advice of an expert committee, the Centre will ban use of 18 pesticides in India as it involves risk to humans and animals. The Union agriculture ministry has issued a draft order, asking manufacturers, importers and state authorities to completely ban 12 of the identified pesticides from January 1, 2018 and remaining six from December 31, 2020.

 

Read More

Indian state will pay farmers to go 100% organic and GMO-free

December 15, 2016 09:32 AM

 

Is India on its way to becoming an entirely organic nation? Just over two years ago, in September 2014, the Indian Government launched their revolutionary Rastriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (National Agriculture Development Program) as a way to encourage organic farming, and decrease dependence on chemical agents. In January 2015, the state of Sikkim was declared as the country’s first 100 percent organic state. Sikkim produces 800,000 tons of organic produce that’s free of harmful pesticides, chemical fertilizers and toxic GMOs — accounting for roughly 65 percent of India’s total organic produce yields.

 

Read More