Pesticide Management For Health

The management of pesticides in agriculture remains a critical issue due to their potential risks to human and environmental health. As agricultural commercialisation and mass monoculture continue to rise, the incidence of plant diseases and pests is increasing day by day. The situation has led to a growing reliance on chemical pesticides for pest and disease management. Due to the lack of trustworthy alternative options and the immediate impact of these chemicals, farmers often resort to their use. 



Pesticide residues can have both acute and chronic effects on human health, contaminate soil, water, and air, disrupt ecosystems, and contribute to the resistance or resurgence of pests. Additionally, these residues can lead to a reduction in beneficial soil microbes, water source contamination, and bioaccumulation and biomagnification within the food chain, as explained by experts.



In order to combat such challenges, the government has brought into effect several policy, legal, and institutional frameworks that regulate pesticide utilisation. The National Agricultural Policy and Agriculture Development Strategy emphasise minimising dependence on chemical pesticides. Legal provisions include the Pesticide Management Act, Environment Protection Act, and Food Safety and Quality Act, the guiding principles for human and environmental health protection. The PQPMC formulates regulations based upon the Pesticide Management Act and works as the authority to issue import permits and registration and monitoring of pesticides under the supervision of the Ministry of Agriculture. The Nepal Agricultural Research Council leads research and technology development of pest management. Initiatives for promoting pesticide alternatives come from a variety of governmental, provincial, and non-governmental organisations. AFU and IAAS contribute to research and education in issues of pest management, while the PEAN manages the pesticide market.



Status



Almost all types of pesticides have been registered in Nepal. According to PQPMC (2023), a total of 179 pesticides with 3,812 trade names have been registered under nine groups, with insecticides comprising nearly half, followed by fungicides and a small portion from the biopesticide group. Nepal does not have any pesticide production factories; all the chemical pesticides are imported and/or formulated domestically. As of March 2024, approximately 19,000 pesticide resellers are in the country. There are around 19000 pesticide resellers working for the trade of pesticides in the country up to March 2024.



There has been a continuous increase in pesticide imports, with a record 1,664 metric tonnes (mt) of active ingredient in 2023/24. Over the decade, the volume of pesticide consumption has quadrupled, with a noticeable surge over the last 3 years. Fungicides, insecticides, and herbicides constitute the largest volume of pesticide imports, with the use of herbicides in recent years posing an environmental threat. Most of the pesticides are from less hazardous World Health Organisation (WHO) classes; the availability of highly hazardous pesticides (WHO classes Ia and Ib) and those in class II remains a significant risk to human and environmental health.


Although the use of bio-pesticides has increased, the volume remains relatively low. The government has banned 27 hazardous pesticides to date. 

According to the government report of 2016, the average national pesticide consumption is 396 grams of active ingredient (a.i.) per hectare, though this varies by crop and ecological region. The pesticide use in vegetables is higher at 1.604 a.i. kg/ha, followed by cash crops at 0.1865 a.i. kg/ha and 0.04613 a.i. kg/ha in cereals. 

The high pesticide use in vegetables is the major threat to human health because many of the vegetables are consumed in raw form. It also shows that the commercial vegetable-producing areas of Nepal, mainly the Terai region and Bagmati province, consume much more pesticides than other parts of the country. No recent survey of the pesticide consumption is found; the previous survey showed the average consumption in Terai is the highest, followed by hills and mountains. The Department of Food Technology and Quality Control Nepal carried out a study during 1995-2007 and found that 12.1 per cent of 1034 food samples were contaminated with pesticides.

Govt. effort

Pesticide residues in fruits and vegetables have been continuously monitored at major wholesale markets and along the Indian border using the rapid bioassay of pesticide residue (RBPR) method. Monitoring began in 2014 at the Kalimati Fresh Market, Kathmandu’s largest fresh produce market, and has since expanded to other regions, including Birtamod, Sarlahi, Pokhara, Kohalpur, Attaria, Butwal, and more recently, Dharan, Surkhet, Sindhuli, Kawasoti, and Dhalkebar. The Import-Export Food Inspection Offices have been monitoring the import of fresh vegetables and fruits from the Indian border since 2022. 

Nearly 99.8 per cent of samples tested have been found to be in the green band, indicating they are safe for consumption, with only a very small percentage falling into the yellow or red categories. However, the monitoring focuses primarily on two pesticide groups—organophosphates and carbamates—leaving newer-generation pesticides largely unmonitored, which poses a greater risk to human health. 

The government has been implementing the Integrated Pest Management (IPM) programme through the Farmers’ Field School (FFS) approach since 1997 to reduce the reliance on chemical pesticides. Numerous awareness programmes, campaigns, publications, and audiovisual materials have been launched to educate the public. The government is supporting the establishment of mini-laboratories for the production of organic and biological pesticides, promoting the agricultural use of these products. Likewise, Nepal has a functional system of pesticide management and regulation whereby pesticide residue monitoring of imported commodities as well as in domestic markets is regularly undertaken.

Way forward


The risks of pesticide hazards are high for farmers, resellers, applicators, and consumers due to a lack of awareness and negligence. Despite having good knowledge of pesticide use, many farmers neglect proper precautions, such as safe pesticide selection, application, disposal, and the use of personal protective equipment. Awareness programs targeting both farmers and consumers are essential, along with media campaigns to emphasise the importance of safety measures. The use of biological and botanical pesticides is increasing, but farmers often prefer conventional chemicals due to the slower action and higher cost of bio-based alternatives. 

Local research is limited, and the market is small. To reduce reliance on harmful chemicals, local research on biological agents and pesticidal plants should be prioritised, with support for small-scale production units. Additionally, bio-pesticide registration should be streamlined, and tax exemptions should be provided to producers.
Legal frameworks related to pesticides should be established at the provincial and local levels. 

The concerned authorities should strengthen monitoring mechanisms through the increased deployment of technicians. The pesticide residue testing facility should be established at borders and in domestic markets. Capacity building for employees, institutions, and laboratories is essential for effective management of pesticides. Highly hazardous pesticides should be gradually banned.

(The author is a joint secretary at the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development.)