Even as Andhra Pradesh joined the list of States to ban the highly toxic herbicide Paraquat Dichloride and Carbosulfan, CropLife India, an association of chemical pesticide companies, has cautioned against a nationwide ban ahead of the crucial kharif season.

“We appeal to the Government to take into consideration the needs at the farm, especially as the kharif sowing season begins. Disrupting affordable, established weed and pest control mid-season would raise costs,” it said.

The association comprises 17 companies in crop protection, representing about 70 per cent of the market.

Andhra Pradesh joined its neighbours Odisha and Telangana to prohibit the use, sale and distribution of this controversial herbicide after deaths of several farmers who exposed themselves to the highly toxic chemical.

However, since the State Governments can impose restrictions only for two months, there have been demands from several quarters that the Union Government announce a nationwide ban.

CropLife India claimed that the reason for farmers’ deaths is financial distress and not the chemical itself. “The drivers (for deaths) include debt, crop failure, the absence of alternative livelihoods, and the inability to repay loans when the harvest fails,” it contended.

Citing a study by Directorate of Weed Research, an Indian Council of Agricultural Research institute, and the Federation of Seed Industry of India, it claimed that weeds caused an estimated ₹92,000 crore in lost crop productivity every year, 25-26 per cent of yield in kharif crops and 18-25 per cent in rabi.

Paraquat is used on close to 80 lakh acres a year and plays a role in weed management across tea, cotton, potato, maize, coffee, rubber, orchards and plantation crops. 

“While debating on any product, we are deviating from the key concern of farmers’ suicide,” said Ankur Aggarwal, Chairman, CropLife India and Executive Chairman & Managing Director, Crystal Crop Protection Ltd. 

Published on May 26, 2026