Manikganj farmers say no alternative to using chemical pesticides

MANIKGANJ, Dec 02: On the eve of No Pesticide Use Day, discussions with farmers in Manikganj points out that the dependency on toxic chemicals for pest control will not disappear soon, but experts warned about the health risks of their overuse.

Anwar Hossain from Syedpur village in Manikganj Sadar Upazila has been farming for over 30 years. On his one bigha field, he grows eggplants and beans and sprays pesticides regularly. He knows the health risks but says he has no alternative.

"If you want good yields, there is no option except pesticides," Anwar said, adding that even though the smell gives him "headaches" and his skin is exposed to the insecticides, he can not stop using them.

"I have to spray three times a week. If I skip even once, the flowers and fruits fall off. I need nearly Tk 20,000 worth of pesticides for this single bigha for three to three and a half months. Without them, the crops will not survive," he also said.

Similar to Anwar, about 500,000 farmers in Manikganj are facing the same pest threats on their farmlands and they have to spray pesticides two to three times a week for better pest control and higher yields. Shahar Ali, another farmer from Syedpur, said he has been farming for over four decades and in the past he had not required "any fertilisers or pesticides." "In the past, the river brought water and silt, and the soil stayed fertile."

"Everyone uses pesticides for higher yields. When I go to the pesticide shop, they simply give me whatever they think is right, and I use it. Sometimes, if I spray a little too much, or use it at the wrong time, the entire crop is damaged. We take all the risks, and the expenses are huge," Shahar said.

Almas Molla from Fokurhati village in Saturia Upazila shares the same frustration of high costs. "I planted eggplant and beans on one bigha. I thought I would earn well, but now I spend around Tk 1,600 a week just on pesticides. On top of that, I need to hire someone to spray, and sometimes, day labourers are not available."

"If I do not spray two or three times a week, the leaves curl and pests attack. After all these costs, the market price is often poor. Farmers like us are trapped, use more poison, spend more money, but earn less," Almas said.

Ripon Hossain from Kamta village said, "Modern farming does not work without pesticides and fertilisers. Our fathers used to farm at very little cost, but now pests are so aggressive that crops will not survive without chemicals."

"Buyers do not want vegetables with even a small mark or insect bite. To meet their expectations, we must spray at least twice a week. Working in the fields, we are scared. But if we stop farming, how will we feed our families? We are now fully dependent on chemicals," Ripon also said. Ripon's neighbour Moktar Hossain said, "Without pesticides, vegetables will not last. Good eggplants sell for Tk 40-50 a kg. But if they are slightly bent or insect-damaged, they barely fetch Tk 10-15. If we do not earn enough, how will we survive?"

"We also want to grow crops without chemicals, but the yields drop, and pests destroy everything. It feels like we have become slaves to pesticides. Every year the quantity (of required pesticides) increases; the costs rise, yet the profit keeps shrinking," Moktar said. Dr Manabendra Sarkar Manab of the Manikganj 250-bed General Hospital, said, "Long-term exposure to pesticide chemicals can cause cancer, liver disease, neurological disorders, and respiratory problems. Farmers who handle these chemicals daily are in the highest risk. When we consume these pesticide-treated vegetables, we too may develop kidney problems or even cancer."

Shahjahan Seraj, deputy director, Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), Manikganj, said, "Farmers usually buy pesticides directly from shops. Sometimes, we receive reports of crop damage due to excessive use."

Stating that the government has decided to provide licence to pesticide distributors who had at least passed the secordary school certificate examination, he added that they will also be trained before they are given a licence.

"Retailers will not be allowed to sell pesticides without prescriptions from our field officers. We hope these steps will reduce improper use. We are also encouraging farmers to adopt IPM (integrated pest management), pheromone traps, and organic methods."

Environmental activist Bimal Chandra Roy said, "In the race for higher yields, use of pesticides is rising sharply. We must ask how safe these vegetables are and what this means for biodiversity."

"Farmers can not escape this alone; there must be coordinated efforts. Local, natural, and sustainable methods must return. Otherwise, soil fertility will continue to fall, and beneficial insects will disappear," he added.

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