Centre firm on academic qualification for pesticide dealers

What Law Says?

8 The Insecticides Rules, 1971, prescribes that pesticide dealers and retailers, or the persons employed by them, must have a graduation degree in agriculture, biochemistry, biotech, life sciences, science with chemistry, botany, or zoology

8 At least, one-year diploma in relevant subjects

8 Govt rejected demand for allowing dealers with Class-X or Class XII qualification

New Delhi: The central government has refused to exempt the retailers and dealers of pesticides and insecticides from the mandatory educational norms. The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare has made it clear that crop and environment safety rather than employment generation is the primary purpose of the sale of pesticides, said official sources.

The Insecticides Rules, 1971, which emanate from the Insecticides Act, 1968, prescribe pesticide dealers and retailers, or the persons employed by them, must have a graduation degree in agricultural sciences, biochemistry, biotechnology, life sciences, science with chemistry, botany, or zoology. Or they must have a one-year diploma in agriculture, horticulture or related subjects with course contents on plant protection and pesticide management.

The 2017 Insecticides Rules also brought in an exemption—for those pesticide dealers over 45 years of age with a cumulative period of experience of more than 10 years as on February 1, 2017, and with an annual turnover below Rs5 lakh.

There was, however, a demand was made that the prescribed educational qualification for the dealers be lowered to Class-X or Class XII. The Ministry of Agriculture, however, rejected that demand on the grounds insecticides and pesticides are not dealt as a subject these levels of education, sources said.

Retailers and dealers, being the first contact of most farmers, must be competent enough to offer basic, first-hand advice on the appropriate use of pesticide, sources said, adding that such knowledge and understanding are not possible at the higher secondary and senior secondary levels. Only a graduate in B.Sc. Agriculture or a Science graduate can offer such advice.

Besides, there are the issues regarding soil health and environment. Against this backdrop, officials pointed out that pesticide selling should not be regarded as an activity that could generate jobs.

Insecticides and pesticides are inherently toxic and hazardous substances, which require careful handling and strict adherence to instructions on labels and leaflets, officials said.

In a bid to help the licencees who could not disrupt their businesses by undergoing the rigors of graduation, a one-year diploma, or employ a person with such qualifications, the Ministry of Agriculture further facilitated them by offering to undergo a short-term certificate course of 12 weeks on Plant Protection & Pesticide Management.