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Vidarbha Farmers Face Toxic Threat from Pesticides

Vidarbha Farmers Face Toxic Threat from Pesticides
Vidarbha Farmers Face Toxic Threat from Pesticides

The cotton fields in Vidarbha promised prosperity but instead delivered something very different.


Farmers entered these fields expecting better yields, unaware they were entering a dangerous territory. They soon realised that what was intended to protect their crops could become a threat to their very lives.


Fields That Claim Lives


In the 2017 monsoon season, something went terribly wrong in the cotton-growing districts of Vidarbha, particularly in Yavatmal.


Farmers spraying pesticides began collapsing in their fields, overcome by dizziness, breathing difficulties, vomiting, and in extreme cases, losing consciousness. Within weeks, hospitals were overwhelmed.

Officially, the Maharashtra government recorded around 800 pesticide poisoning hospitalisations, with at least 22 deaths in Yavatmal alone.



A farmer from Sawargaon village, Gajanan Phulmali, sprayed pesticides to combat pink bollworms on his three-acre cotton field in late September 2017.


Soon after, he developed severe respiratory problems. Gajanan spent nearly two weeks in a local hospital before passing away on 1 October.


His case was not isolated. Bandu Sonule, a farm worker from the same district, died within days of inhaling pesticide fumes while spraying cotton fields. Both families faced abrupt financial and personal hardship, losing their primary earners and plunging deeper into debt.


Chemical Mixes and Missing Protection

Vidarbha Farmers Using Toxic Pesticides
Vidarbha Farmers Using Toxic Pesticides

Investigations revealed many affected farmers had mixed multiple pesticides without awareness of potential dangers.


Monocrotophos, an organophosphate banned in numerous countries due to extreme toxicity, was often combined with other pesticides like diafenthiuron, cypermethrin, and profenofos.

Farmers believed mixtures would enhance effectiveness against persistent pests but were unaware of increased toxicity risks.



Farmers generally sprayed without adequate protective equipment, often with only a cloth covering their mouths.


Ankush Rathod, aged just 22, suffered severe eye injuries after days spent spraying pesticides without protective goggles or masks. Ankush survived but faced lingering eyesight issues, unable to return to farm work. His case illustrates the health impacts faced by many survivors.


According to Maharashtra state records, pesticide poisoning led to at least 272 deaths between 2014 and 2017, highlighting the scale of this danger.

Following the 2017 tragedy, a temporary ban on monocrotophos and other harmful pesticides was introduced.


Farmers received safety kits consisting of gloves, goggles, and masks.


Yet, despite efforts, many continued to spray without protection, either due to discomfort or because safety kits never reached them.



Environmental and Long-Term Health Impacts


Beyond immediate poisoning incidents, the prolonged use of pesticides contaminated water and soil across Vidarbha.


Studies confirmed residues of toxic pesticides like chlorpyrifos, monocrotophos, and endosulfan in local groundwater and surface waters. Some chemicals banned internationally decades ago still linger in Vidarbha’s environment at unsafe levels.


Groundwater tests conducted in Yavatmal found endosulfan at concentrations of up to 0.78 µg/L, exceeding safe limits recommended by international health bodies.

Local residents often consume untreated water from wells and borewells, unaware of potential health implications.


Medical researchers found links between chronic pesticide exposure and rising incidences of neurological and psychological disorders among farmers in the region.



A 2021 study conducted in the Wardha district found significantly higher levels of depression and suicidal tendencies among farmers exposed to pesticides compared to those with less exposure.

Farmers have reported livestock falling sick or dying after grazing in fields recently sprayed with pesticides. Cotton monoculture, heavily reliant on chemical pesticides, has also led to declining soil fertility and harmed local biodiversity, including natural pest predators like pollinators and birds.


Affected families in Yavatmal sought compensation and accountability beyond local authorities. In 2020, several farmers and families initiated a lawsuit against the multinational agrochemical company Syngenta in Switzerland.


They alleged that Syngenta's pesticide 'Polo' (diafenthiuron), widely sprayed in Vidarbha, was linked to numerous poisonings and fatalities.

Documents filed in the Swiss courts cited at least 96 cases of poisoning directly linked to the use of Polo in Yavatmal in 2017.


The lawsuit argued that the company inadequately warned farmers about the severe risks associated with their pesticide.



Notably, Polo had been banned in Switzerland years earlier due to health concerns, yet continued to be marketed aggressively in India.


In June 2022, attempts at mediation between Syngenta and the families broke down without resolution, leaving families without compensation.


Families affected by poisoning organised into local groups, including the Maharashtra Association of Pesticide Poisoned Persons (MAPPP), advocating for recognition and support.


They continued pressing the Indian government and pesticide companies for compensation, not just for fatalities but for the survivors who face ongoing health challenges and economic struggles.


In September 2023, the Indian government finally imposed a complete ban on monocrotophos, methomyl, dicofol, and dinocap under judicial pressure and following continuous advocacy from local and international organisations.

While this move addresses some immediate concerns, broader policy reform remains under discussion.


For Vidarbha’s farmers, the battle with pesticides is far from over. While initial responses brought attention and temporary changes, the deeper crisis persists beneath the surface.


Families continue fighting legal battles for justice, communities grapple with ongoing environmental contamination, and individual lives remain marked by tragedy and health struggles.


Vidarbha’s poisoned fields serve as a reminder of the cost hidden within India's agricultural practices, a cost measured not just in lost harvests but in human lives permanently changed.


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