Govt to curb pesticide misuse in haor areas, promote organic alternatives

The government has decided to tighten controls on pesticide use in haor areas and promote organic and safer alternatives during the upcoming Boro season to protect fisheries, livestock, and biodiversity.

The decisions were taken at the second meeting of the National Committee on regulating pesticide use in agriculture, held today (4 January) at the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock.

As part of the measures, the sale of pesticides will be controlled in seven haor-dominated districts during the Boro season. Monitoring of pesticide use will also be strengthened through district- and upazila-level committees, officials said.

The committee further decided that pesticide bottles and packets must be marketed with clear and simple usage instructions written in Bangla. Training and awareness programmes will also be conducted for farmers in haor districts on the safe and proper use of pesticides.

Fisheries and Livestock Adviser Farida Akhtar said unregulated pesticide use during the Boro season is causing serious harm to fish, livestock, and the wider haor ecosystem.

"After the monsoon, water levels fall in the haor region and cultivation of Rabi crops, particularly Boro rice, begins," she said. "In pursuit of higher yields, many farmers use pesticides indiscriminately, which poses severe risks to biodiversity."

She stressed that urgent and coordinated action is required to regulate pesticide use and protect the haor environment from long-term damage.

Senior Secretary of the Ministry of Water Resources Md Mokabbir Hossain said the harmful pesticide carbofuran has already been banned and its marketing must be strictly prevented. He emphasised replacing hazardous chemical pesticides with organic alternatives and safer pest management methods.

Agriculture Secretary Mohammad Emdad Ullah Mian said finalising regulations on pesticide use would help curb misuse significantly. He noted that Bangladesh currently has about 8,100 commercial pesticide brands under 335 generic names, all of which are import-dependent.

Health Services Division Secretary Md Saidur Rahman said farmers often apply excessive pesticides due to the absence of clear guidelines. He proposed examining the feasibility of introducing a prescription-based system for pesticide sales.

The committee also decided to arrange toxicity tests of pesticides used in food and animal feed at laboratories of NIB, BCSIR, and BARI. Environment-friendly alternatives such as organic pesticides, integrated pest management, and good agricultural practices will be promoted to reduce reliance on harmful chemicals.

An integrated action plan to regulate pesticide use in haor regions is set to be implemented by 31 January 2026.