In a significant development, a high-powered committee examining excessive use of chemicals, fertilizers and pesticides in agriculture has recommended setting up of a state-level secretariat to promote ecu-friendly farming in Punjab .

The six-member committee being headed by Punjab Agriculture University (PAU) Vice-Chancellor and set up by the Punjab and Haryana High Court in February has proposed that the state level secretariat should be set up at PAU , Ludhiana. The Punjab and Haryana High court had directed this committee to suggest measures, including the strategy to promote safe use of fertilizers and pesticides in agriculture in Punjab. The committee has proposed that representatives of all the developmental departments, civil society organisations and progressive farmers be included in the secretariat to further examine in-depth a number of issues.

Emphasising the need to strengthen research on ecu-friendly farming, the panel has said that agriculture was the main contributor in ground-water depletion, agro-chemical pollution and global climate change. The panel report submitted in the High Court on Friday also advocated holistic approach by multi-disciplinary scientists for understating the implications arising out of indiscriminate and improper use of agricultural chemicals and provide for knowledge on the current best management practices in the form that are understandable by the different stakeholders.

It has been recommended that a pesticide residue laboratory should be established to enable farmers get their agricultural produce analysed at a nominal cost.

The panel has also recommended that the pesticides should be used only when absolutely necessary. The farmers should be educated to assess the pest population and use pesticides only when potential damage by the pests is likely to result in economic loss.

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