The case of Ashok Kumar
Ashok Kumar 28, a rice farmer in Bhutibhhal village in Gaisilat block of Bargarh district in Western Orissa. His family has seven members. He is a rain fed paddy farmer. His earning from two acres of land is not sufficient enough to meet the needs of his family. He grows two high yielding varieties of rice - Swarna and Lalat. He has taken over farming from his father in 2001. He continues to spray Endosulphan and Monocrotophous on his paddy field. He sprays thrice these two pesticides – once just after 15 days of transplanting of saplings followed by after weeding and during milking stage. However, after six years he sprays twice the amount he used to spray six years ago as pests had developed resistance.
In 2007 after two weeks of transplanting the Swarna variety of paddy he saw the leaves of the saplings were damaged by a pest .He had then bought 150 ml of Endosulphan by paying Rs 225/- to spray in his half an acre of land of Swarna. He had mixed 150 ml of Endosulphan in 80 litres of water and 100 ml of monocrotophous in 80 liters of water and sprayed on the saplings. They have sprayed Metacid EC, another pesticide, just because this was suggested by the pesticide shop. Neither he nor his father has ever used any protective cover during spraying. They wash their clothes and bathe in the village pond after spraying. The villagers use this pond water to clean kitchen utensils as well.
In November 2006, his father had developed severe stomach pain and had to rush to the Burla medical college cum hospital. He was diagnosed to have developed ulcer in the stomach. According to the doctors there his body has turned acidic due to the use of toxic pesticides. We noticed him having itching of the hands, copper coloured eczematic eruptions, discoloration of the skin, head reeling, discoloration of the skin of the toes etc. He had stopped spraying since then and handed over the work to his son,Ashok.
Ashok has also been experiencing itching of his body, head reeling and hair falling. According to him he experiences these during cultivation season. His wife had three abortions and is currently unable to conceive. However, we are yet to establish this with the exposure to pesticides.The pesticide seller in this village could not show his license papers even though he claimed to have one. He has been this trade sine 1992 We saw him handling pesticides without any globes or any other protective measures.. During our interaction with him he had complained of burning sensation of his body and eyes.
According to Mr.Binod Ku Lakra , Assistant Agriculture officer the farmers in the do not stick to the prescribed dosages of Endosulphan , Bavistin (Methyl benzoimidazol) , Monocrotophous, and Dethen-M spray much more and rely more on the suggestions of pesticide dealer.He further said that due to illiteracy farmers have been sold pesticides beyond their expiry dates.
