Prelims: Current events of national and international importance | Science and technology
Why in News?
Recently, the union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare has accepted the recommendation to ban Paraquat Dichloride.
- Paraquat dichloride – A chemical herbicide used globally to control broadleaf weeds and grasses and as a harvest-aid desiccant to dry out crops like cotton before harvest.
- It destroys plant tissue on contact but leaves no residual chemical activity in the soil.
Key Highlights
- Reason for Ban –
- Documented adverse health effects
- Continued history of poisoning incidents
- Reported high fatalities
- The absence of a specific antidote
- The ban covers manufacture, import, transport, distribution, sale, and use.
- Recommended by – The Registration Committee under the Insecticides Act, 1968
- Global Context – Already banned or strictly restricted in 70+ countries.
Reference
The Hindu | Paraquat Dichloride
