The Gujarat Ayurvedic Aushadh Manufacturers Association (GAAMA) has urged the Centre to take urgent measures to control the use of the pesticide dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) by the farmers in the country while cultivating plants for medical purposes. This demand comes in the wake of growing concern among the ayurvedic drug manufactures over uncontrolled usage of the pesticide by the cultivators to increase their production affecting the quality of the ayurvedic products.

The association blamed that the widespread use of DDT, a member of the chlorinated hydrocarbon group, on the medicinal plants is becoming a growing concern for the industry due to its adverse environmental side effects on the medicines. It has been reported that the crops that are cultivated using high amount of DDT has strong presence of the pesticide in it making it harmful and dangerous for the patients to consume medicines manufactured out of these plant raw materials.

Industry feels that main reason behind the farmers and cultivators misusing DDT is because of the lack of awareness among them about the dangers of unrestricted use of the pesticide on human beings. GAAMA stressed that if the cultivators are given timely advise and information on the same through government intervention this practice can be curbed before it is impacts the industry as a whole.

The industry experts pointed out that to control this situation from aggravating further the government should bring in restrictions on the use of DDT within the country at least on medicinal plants. Prabodh Shah, president, GAAMA informed that since ASU industry depends on plant based raw materials and products it is very essential to ensure that they are of the highest quality.

He stressed that the Ayush Department should take timely steps to sensitise and create awareness among the farmers in the country about the adverse effects of DDT misuse since it is the foundation of the industry. “We completely understand that curbing the use of DDT is not a feasible solution, however all we demand a controlled use of the same through proper guidance and sensitisation measures. Government should chart out programmes specifically targeting the farmers and suppliers so that they are duly informed about the adverse reactions of DDT,” Shah said.

For the effective implementation of this programme, GAAMA even suggested the government to set up a separate body in each of the state consisting of representatives from the government, ASU industry, farmers and suppliers to be part of this body.