CropLife India launched a digital awareness campaign to help farmers identify and avoid illicit pesticides, targeting more than 2.5 million farmers across 13 states. The initiative aims to improve awareness about genuine crop-protection products while encouraging farmers to purchase pesticides only from authorised sources and follow recommended application practices.
Campaign Targets Farmers Across 13 States
Ramnath Thakur, Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, formally launched the campaign under the theme “Be an Aware Farmer, Choose Genuine Pesticide.” The campaign will reach farmers across Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, Maharashtra and Gujarat. To improve accessibility, CropLife India will disseminate awareness messages in Hindi, Telugu, Marathi, Tamil and Punjabi.
Campaign Promotes Genuine Pesticide Use
The initiative will help farmers distinguish genuine crop-protection products from illicit or unauthorised pesticides. It will also promote responsible pesticide use and encourage farmers to buy products through authorised channels. As part of the campaign, farmers will be encouraged to purchase pesticides only from trusted and authorised sources, always ask for an invoice or bill when purchasing pesticides, check product labels carefully before use and follow recommended dosage and application practices. These measures can help farmers reduce the risks associated with unauthorised products while supporting safer and more effective crop protection.
Awareness Key to Protecting Farm Incomes
Launching the campaign, Thakur emphasized that farmers need greater awareness of genuine agricultural inputs to protect crops, improve productivity and safeguard their livelihoods. He also highlighted the need for coordinated action involving farmers, manufacturers, dealers, scientists and government agencies to address the challenge of illicit pesticides.
CropLife India Calls for Collective Action
Durgesh Chandra, Secretary General, CropLife India, said greater farmer awareness will play an important role in tackling the issue of illicit pesticides. He emphasized that empowering farmers with the right knowledge is essential for building a stronger agricultural sector. Furthermore, he called for collective efforts among stakeholders to promote genuine agricultural products and safe crop-protection practices. As reported by global-agriculture.com, through the campaign, CropLife India aims to strengthen farmer awareness and encourage informed purchasing decisions, contributing to a safer, more transparent and quality-driven agricultural input ecosystem.