46 dead in Vidarbha (India) pesticide poisoning

Against the backdrop of deaths of over 45 farmer following pesticide poisoning in Vidarbha, the Quality Control of state Agriculture Department on Wednesday seized pesticides, worth of Rs 14.31-crore from Akola in western Vidarbha.

According to available information, the quality control sleuths of Akola, accompanied by a team of Agriculture commissionerate, Pune, raided 12 different godowns of pesticide companies and sealed those stocked and prevented their sales.

At least 45 farmers died from the suspected pesticide poisoning in Vidarbha since August this year and most of the deaths were reported from Yavatmal, a major cotton-growing district that has often been in the news for farmers’ suicides. They died after spraying pesticides on their Bt cotton plantations in the region.

Milind Janjal, the quality control chief of Akola Agriculture department admitted that they have raided at least 12 pesticide godowns in the district and sealed the stock to prevent further sale.

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