India: Killer spray
India’s pesticide industry is worth billions of dollars, but has it caused major health problems in some communities?
The Green Revolution swept across India in the 1960s and 1970s, changing it from a nation begging for food aid to a top cotton and grain producer. But ‘Green’ did not refer to organic farming. Instead, politicians, scientists and philanthropists argued that by switching from traditional to Western farming methods – using pesticides and fertilisers – India could fight hunger.
Today, India’s pesticide industry is worth billions of dollars but there appears to be a high price – devastating health problems for communities where pesticides like endosulfan are intensively used.
With pesticide companies claiming their products are safe, 101 East investigates India’s killer spray.
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