Impact of - IDL-BNC @ IDRC - International Development Research ...

Since the creation of Pakistan in 1947, procurement and distribution of pesticides
has been the responsibility of the federal government. Initially, pesticides
were supplied to farmers free of charge as most were received as aid from
abroad. In 1980, the management of pesticides was transferred to the private
sector. The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Cooperatives, through the
Agricultural Pesticides Technical Advisory Committee (consisting of members
drawn from various relevant federal and provincial agencies), however,
is responsible for the implementation of rules. There are also detailed regulations
on storage and labeling of pesticides (Baloch 1985).
Although provisions for the safety of workers handling pesticides were
passed, no arrangements have been made to monitor the implementation of
these provisions. A special Pest Warning and Quality Control of Pesticides
Directorate has been established to control the market and offer guidance to
farmers.
Pesticides in use
Pakistan began using pesticides in agriculture in 1954, with an initial consumption
of 254 t. The quantity rose to 16 226 t of formulated pesticides in
1976 and 25853 tin 1981. During the last decade, production plants for various
formulations have been set up to use imported active ingredients. These
facilities are capable of preparing up to 26 000 t of granules, 33 500 t of dusts
and wettable powders (WP), and 25 million L of liquid emulsifiable concentrates
(EC) annually (Baloch 1985).
Statistics collected by the Department of Agriculture in the province of Pun jab,
the most important area in agricultural production, indicate a huge increase
in the use of pesticides: 641 t of active ingredient was used in 1980 and 3543 t
in 1988. About 90% of this is applied to cotton fields and 5% to rice fields. A
total of 112 pesticide products are standardized and imported by 42 registered
distributors in Punjab, including:
Chlorinated hydrocarbons, e.g., dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane
(DDT), lindane, dieldrin, heptachior, endosulfan;
Organophosphorous compounds, e.g., parathion, methyl parathion,
malathion, diazinon;
Carbamates, e.g., carbaryl;
Dithiocarbamates, e.g., mankotseb; and
Pyrethroids, e.g., permethrin, fenvalerate, cypermethrin.
Although the consumption of pyrethroids has increased during the last few
years, older, more persistent and toxic compounds, such as DDT and methyl
bromide, are still in use.
71