1) Several farmers from India discuss their use of endosulfan for 10-20 years without issues and as an important part of integrated pest management. 2) Experts are concerned that a ban on endosulfan would hurt Indian tea production and farming, as there are no cost-effective alternatives, and alternatives may be harmful to pollinators and farm ecosystems. 3) Endosulfan is a broad spectrum insecticide recommended in India for its versatility across multiple pests, crops, climates, and ability to avoid and break pest resistance while being safer for pollinators than alternatives that are 10 times more expensive for farmers.

1. Endosulfan – Issues in India

2. Ground Situation in Indian Farms
Ramprasanna Pal, Village Gopalpur, Dist Birbhum, West Bengal is a paddy and vegetable
farmer in Village Gopalpur, Dist Birbhum in West Bengal
Mukund Mondal is a vegetable farmer in Village Thuara in 24 Parganas Dist of West
Bengal
Kamleshbhai Raujibhai Patel grows cotton and pulses (legumes) and sesame in Lunarda
Village in Baroda District, Gujarat
Talavia Gordhanbhai Vallabhbhai grows cotton, pulses (legumes) and vegetables in Akala
Village of Amreli District in Gujarat
All of them have used Endosulfan safely and effectively for periods ranging
from 10 to 20 years. Endosulfan is an important part of their approach
towards responsible farming and Integrated Pest Management (IPM). None
of them have an idea that in April 2011 the Conference of Parties (COP) of the
Stockholm Convention is meeting to decide on a recommendation to list
Endosulfan as a Persistent Organic Pollutant

3. Ground Situation in India
Mr Debarghya Guha is Chairman of Indian Tea Planters Association,
Dooars Branch. He has been concerned that India will lose out on its
tea production if Endosulfan is no longer available for use in tea as
there are no cost effective alternative available. His growers have also
been hit by the European demand that Endosulfan be no longer used
on tea imported into Europe despite Indian tea meeting Codex
standards of MRL (Maximum Residue Limit) on Tea.
Dr Noor is a Professor from Rajasthan Agricultural University who is
an expert on cross‐pollination and propagates farming practices which
are safe to pollinators and predators. He is concerned that if
Endosulfan is banned, alternatives will be harmful to the farm
ecosystem and could wipe out colonies of honeybees and affect cross
pollinated crops. The farmer will lose out on a vital gift of nature

4. Endosulfan
A broad spectrum generic “contact” insecticide soft on pollinators such as honey
bees and beneficial such as lady bird beetle, chrysoperla, trichograma etc
Invented in Germany and in use in global agriculture for over 55 years. Used in
India for over 40 years
Third largest selling generic insecticide worldwide with global market in excess
of 40 million liters valued at over US$ 300 million (>Rs 1350 cores) with
replacement cost of alternative estimated to be in excess of US$ 1 billion (>Rs
4500 crores)
India’s share in global Endosulfan market is over 70%
The Indian market of Endosulfan is approximately 12 million liters valued at
US$ 60 million (Rs 270 crores)
Exports of Endosulfan from India is valued at US$ 40 million (Rs 180 crores)
Today in the eye of the storm in the battle of “patented” vs “generic” pesticides

5. Local needs
We have small farms
Mixed Cropping
Different stages of Crop
Hot and humid climate
Mixed pest population‐sucking chewing
Our farmers need products that are versatile
Endosulfan is recommended by Agricultural Universities as its best suited
in these situations

6. Relevance of Endosulfan
Multi Pest
Multi Crop
Safe to Beneficial
Safe to Pollinators
Avoids Resistance
Breaks Resistance
Economical

7. Pest and Pollinator Management
Pest and Pollinator appear at the same time
Challenge is to manage the pest and allow bee visits
Use bee friendly insecticides
Endosulfan is soft on Honey bees

8. SHARE OF LOSSES CAUSED BY DIFFERENT PESTS
Rodents &
Others
15%
Weeds
Diseases
33%
26%
26% Insects
On an average 18% of the crop yield is lost due to pests
(Annual monetary loss: Rs.60,000 Crores NCIPM
Source:Working Subgroup on Plant Protection, Planning Commission, 2001)

9. Components of I.P.M.
Integration of all the methods of Pest Management is
essential
as any single method will not be effective

11. Endosulfan – Cost Comparison
MRP Cost / acre
Product per Lt or Kg Cotton Veg Paddy
Endosulfan 35% EC 286 114 46 69
Flubendiamide 39.35 SC 13800 690 276
Chlorantraniliprole 18.5 SC 12280 737 246 737
Emamectin Benzoate 5% SG 8400 739 672
Flubendiamide 20% WG 7434 743 372
Thiamethoxam actera 4010 321 321 160
Indoxacarb 14.5 SC 3400 680 544
Imidacloprid 17.8% SL 2229 111 89 111

12. Implications on Indian Farmer
If Endosulfan is listed as a Persistent Organic Pollutant (POP) all
countries who have ratified the convention have to take actions
to eliminate the trade and use of the molecule over a period of
time
It will mean that the Indian farmer will be denied the right to
choose Endosulfan as a affordable low cost solution for his crop
protection needs
It will mean that he will have to pay about 10 times more for
alternatives which may not be as effective as Endosulfan
It will mean that there will be an imbalance to his farm
ecosystem as many of the suggested alternatives are not honey
bee and pollinator friendly
It will affect productivity of horticulture crops and will result in
lower yields of fruits and vegetables which depend on
pollination

13. Project by:
Krishna Chavan (B.Sc. Agriculture)
Sapna Kelkar (B.Sc. Agriculture)
Swati Karmarkar (B.Sc. Food Science)

14. References:
Wikipedia
Google.com
Indian study channel
ICAR
Media Reports from the recent years

15. THANK YOU