USE OF PESTICIDES BY FARMERS: Judicious use stressed for boosting crops production

Speakers on Saturday said there is no alternative of using pesticides on the farming fields of vegetables and other crops judiciously since it not only helps boost their production maintaining sound public and soil health but also helps protect environmental balance.
‘Injudicious and indiscriminate use of pesticides is harmful for soil health, public health, biodiversity and environment as a whole. Large-scale promotion of bio and organic pest management system is therefore imperative to mitigate the problem,’ speakers said.
They came up with the call in the inaugural session of a two-day international seminar styled ‘Botanical Pesticide and Environmental Sustainability’ held at the senate building of Rajshahi University.
More than 150 scientists and researchers from home and abroad took part in the seminar organised by Institute of Environmental Sciences of the university. Above 100 research papers are also likely to be presented in six academic and technical sessions.
RU vice-chancellor Professor Muhammad Mizanuddin addressed the session as the chief guest while pro-vice-chancellor Professor Chowdhury Sarwar Jahan and treasurer Professor Sayen Uddin, among others, spoke as the special guests with Professor Sultan-ul-Islam, IES director, in the chair.
Addressing the programme, Mizanuddin said there are countless microorganisms which are beneficial for boosting crops and vegetables production besides maintaining the environment. But the indiscriminate uses of pesticides destruct the beneficial insects, too.
The malpractice is not only creating serious environmental degradation but also creating health hazard, he added.
He stressed the need for bringing all the farmers and other growers concerned under the umbrella of adequate training and awareness programme on an urgent basis so that the malpractice could be stopped.
‘We have no way but to motivate the farmers and others concerned in this regard to maintain a sound environment for ensuring a healthy nation,’ said Mizanuddin.
The VC also urged the policy makers and others concerned to come forward together for arranging time-befitting training for the farmers.