LCHAR
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ASSAM U
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VER TY NI
Assam University Journal of Science & Technology :
Biological and Environmental Sciences
Vol. 7 Number I
84-88, 2011
ISSN 0975-2773
A Study on the Harmful Effects of Pesticides used in the Cultivation of
Brinjal in Longai River Valley, Karimganj, Assam, India.
Bonani Mazumder
Dept. of Biotechnology, Assam University, Silchar-788011
Abstract
Brinjal (Solanum melongena L.) is cultivated all over India; North-east India is also famous for brinjal
cultivation. The Karimganj district of Assam is specially known for an indigenous variety of brinjal, the
Longai Brinjal. The farmers who cultivate brinjal in this place use a large number of pesticides, herbicides
and fungicides for protection of the crop and better yield. In the process they are exposed to a large number
of health hazards directly and indirectly. This work aims to study the health hazards faced by the farmers and
to provide appropriate suggestions so that minimum harm is caused to the farmers and maximum yield is
obtained.
Keywords: Solanum melongena L, pesticides, herbicides and fungicides, health hazards.
Introduction
Brinjal, Solanum melongena L. is a very common
and favourite vegetable among the Indians. It is
estimated that there are more than hundred
varieties of brinjal in our country. Brinjal is
cultivated in almost every part of our country since
last 4,000 years (Kumar, 2009). The North-east
India is also known for brinjal cultivation.
The Karimganj district of Assam in the Northeastern part of our country is also quite famous
for a special indigenous variety of brinjal which is
not found in any part of our country. This variety
is known as the Longai Brinjal. It is estimated that
during peak growing season, about 40-50 tons of
brinjal are produced and sold everyday, from the
two villages, namely Ambarkhana and Dharakona,
on the two banks of the Longai river. There are
about 300 farmers in these two villages
(Ambarkhana and Dharakona), who are totally
dependent on the seasonal Brinjal cultivation. The
total area under brinjal cultivation is about 250
acres along both the banks of the river. The seeds
are sown in mid July and crop is yielded from mid
December to March every year. This particular
variety of brinjal is not available in any other part
of our country, i.e. it can be said that it is endemic
to the banks of Longai River, a small tributary of
the Kushiara river.
It has been observed that like other parts of our
country, the brinjal cultivated here also suffers
from several diseases and pests. The most
common pests are the Stem and Fruit Borer
Worms (SFBW) along with fungal and viral
diseases. To get good crop yield, the farmers have
to spray a large quantity of pesticides and
fungicides (Sachdeva, 2007). The process of using
fertilizers and pesticides begins about a month
before the sowing of seeds. Pesticides are used
from early stage. Most of the farmers are illiterate
as a result they hardly know the correct way of
spraying the pesticides; they get the information
from older farmers or shop-keepers who sell these
chemicals. As a result most of farmers are
unaware of the health hazards they are facing
every day (Pawar et al., 2004; Croplife Int., 2008).
This study is mainly concerned to study the harmful
effects of pesticides and other chemicals (Agrochemicals) used in the field during the cultivation
of Brinjal in Longai banks. For collection of
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A Study on the Harmful Effects of .......
information a questionnaire was prepared and the
same was used to collect data from about 300
farmers of that area. The name of all the pesticides
used by them has been collected and their effects
have been studied.
2. To analyze pesticide poisoning cases among
the farmers their family members.
3. To suggest policies for safe handling of
agrochemicals by the farmers.
Materials and Method:
Scope and Objectives:
This study attempts to analyze the handling of
agro-chemicals and health related problems arising
in the farmers in the Longai river banks of Assam.
Major objectives are enlisted below.
1. To find the precautionary measures adopted
by farmers and their family members in the
study area.
The name of the pesticides used by farmers of
Longai Brinjal were collected, their mode of
application, etc. were collected from the farmers
through personal interview. The chemical
composition of the pesticides and their harmful
effect on the health of human was collected from
The pesticides used by them are:
Table no.1
Brand name
Thiodine
Melathion
Tricel
Ustad
Tata fen
BSE-50
Chemical composition
Endosulphan active 35% w/w
0,0-Dimethyl dithiophosphate
of diethyl mercapto succinate
Chloropyriphos Tech. 21%
Solvent Aromax 72%, Emulsifier,
Cypermethrin 10%
Fenvalerate tech (90%) 22.5%
Emulsifier (Polyethylenepolyp-henolderivative 14%+Alkylanyl
sulphonate 6%)
Lindane 50%
The table no.1 clearly shows that pesticides and
insecticides usually fall under three categories,
namely, Organochlorines, Organophosphates and
Pyrethroids. All these three classes of chemicals
are very harmful chemicals and are used all over
our country to control pests and insects (Publ.Div.
2006). These chemicals are used by the farmers
to protect their crops in a large scale and in turn
they are exposed to various health hazards (Arora,
2007; Reeves et al., 1999).
Organophosphates are insecticides containing
esters of phosphoric acids. These chemicals are
very strong neurotoxins (Johnson, 1969) and
directly attack the nervous system of man.
Farmers who are exposed to this chemical may
show symptoms like headache, tiredness, general
Class
Organochlorines
Organophosphates
Organophosphates
Pyrethroid/Pyrethrin
Pyrethroid/Pyrethrin
Organochlorines
weakness and excessive salivation (Kishi, 2002).
This may be accompanied with vomiting and
diarrhea, stomach cramps, muscle twitch, shaking
of hands and in acute poisoning the affected
person may have fits and may also lose
consciousness (Datta et al, 1994). The mode of
action of this compound is that it inhibits the action
of neurotransmitter acetylcholinesterase on nerve
cells. The symptoms of Organophosphates
poisoning is known as Cholinergic Syndrome
(Wilkinson, 1990, Kiran et al., 1990).
Organochlorines are chemicals like DDT,
polychlorinated biphenyls, Hexachlorocyclohexanes, etc. On regular exposure to these
chemicals several types of health hazards has been
observed among the farmers and their family
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A Study on the Harmful Effects of .......
Table No. 2
members. These include decreased sperm-count
in males, birth defects, chromosome defects in
blood cells, leukemia among children (WHO,
1990), etc.
Questions
asked
Positive Negative
response response
Pyrethrins and Pyrethroids are another group
of chemicals used in pesticides and insecticides
(Arora, 2007, Publ.Div. 2006).
1. Basic training
1%
99%
2. Mixture of
pesticides used
98%
2%
Pyrethrins are botanical insecticides derived from
Chrysanthemum flowers.
3. Precaution
followed
74%
26%
Pyrethroids are synthetic chemicals with similar
chemical structures as Pyrethrins but they are
modified to increase their stability in sunlight. The
symptoms of poisoning by these chemicals are
dizziness, headache, nausea, muscle twitching,
reduced energy, changes in awareness,
convulsions and also loss of consciousness (Arora,
2007).
4. Pesticide poisoning
2%
98%
5. Chronic diseases
95%
5%
6. Pesticides kept
in safe place
20%
80%
7. Gradual increase
in pesticide use
100%
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Based on the information collected (Table 2),
from the farmers it was clear that they use several
harmful agrochemicals in their fields for improving
the yield. To confirm this information a
questionnaire was prepared and all 300 farmers
were asked to respond. The responses were
recorded in a tabular form, given below.
1. How long you have been cultivating brinjal in
this area?
2. Do you have any practical training from
agriculture dept. or any other experts?
3. Do you use the pesticides separately or mix
different types and use?
4. Do you follow any precaution during the
spraying process?
5. Did you or any of your family members ever
suffer from pesticide poisoning?
6. Do you keep the pesticides in a safe place
away from your house or in your house?
7. Do you or any of your family members suffer
from any chronic illness?
8. Do you know that you are affected by
pesticides?
9. Do you follow the instructions printed on the
pack before using the pesticides?
10.Has the use of pesticides increased since
previous years?
Results:
On analyzing the data collected from the farmers
we know that majority of the farmers are illiterate
and a small group are educated/ literate. It has
also been found that 99% of the farmers are not
at all trained and do not know the proper use of
agro-chemicals, they simply use these by learning
from their elders, which may not always be
correct. Most of the farmers mix two or more
pesticides and spray them in the field. This is a
very harmful practice both for the farmer and the
environment. Generally the farmers do not enter
a field for atleast three days after spraying
insecticides, but during peak harvest period, they
harvest brinjals immediately after spraying (i.e.
the next day).
It has also been noticed that most of the family
members of the farmers suffer from general illhealth and chronic diseases. These can be due to
the side effects caused by the handling of these
harmful chemicals. As majority of the farmers
are illiterate and unknowingly use their house for
storing the pesticides. Moreover they hardly
follow any precautions before and after spraying
the chemicals in the field.
Conclusion:
In conclusion it can be said that for increasing
their yield and also improving the quality of the
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1
2
4
3
66
5
1.Bank of Longai River. 2.Field showing brinjal cultivation.
3.Young brinjal saplings. 4.Infected saplings.
5.Brinjal in field. 6. Farmer putting pesticides
brinjals, these farmers use a huge amount of
fertilizers, insecticides and pesticides. In the long
run they are causing great damage to their health
and the environment too. These people suffer from
various chronic diseases like indigestion, gastric
problems, weakness and also low mental
development. All these can be some way related
to the indiscriminate use of pesticides. Another
interesting thing is that they hardly go to the doctor
for these ‘petty symptoms’, thinking that they will
get cured naturally. So it is time we should think
about these poor farmers and help them out. For
this we gave them some training regarding the
safe handling of agrochemicals and also taught
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them the precautionary measures that they should
follow in storing, using and disposing the used cans.
We also told them that mixture of pesticides should
not be used instead one pesticide at a time should
be used. They were also told the benefits of crop
rotation and using green manure and herbal
pesticides (like neem oil). So, we feel that the
endeavour of ours will take time but the poor
farmers of Longai river will continue to cultivate
this unique variety of Brinjal for us and they will
remain healthy too.
References
Arora P.B. (2006). Pesticides and Human Health, A
Resource for Health Professionals.p-7.
Croplife International (2008). Global market
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California Environmental Protection Agency (1998).
Assessment list of Chemicals known to the state of
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of organophosphorus insecticides phosphamidon and
Melathion on lipid profile and acetylcholinesterase
activity in human erythrocyte membrane, Indian J Med
Res.100 :87.
Johnson M.K. (1969). The delayed neurotoxic effects
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Kiran R. and Verma M. N. (1990). Age related toxic effect
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Kishi M. (2002). Indonesian farmers’ perception of
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