Development of pesticides in India-A case study of Paddy [Rice] insecticides
Rice crop in Nov 2022 Pesticides are important component of crop protection. They have played an important role in reducing crop losses by controlling pests and diseases. Over the years, pesticide consumption has been on increase. About 60,000 tons of pesticides are consumed in India. In view of increasing awareness of environment and human health, pesticides are under constant scrutiny for their efficacy and safety. In India, 339 pesticides are registered for use as insecticides, fungicides, rodenticides, weedicides and others under the Insecticide Act 1968. Assessing the development of pesticides over the past seven decades has become a priority. Paddy [Rice] insecticides are used herein to track this developmental path. Forty-one insecticides and their more than seventy formulations, besides 46 combinations of insecticides with other pesticides are registered for control of pests of paddy in the country. These insecticides belong to as many as 13 major groups based upon mode