Latest news with #Imidacloprid
Express Tribune
11-07-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Senate body reviews reforms to boost agricultural exports
Listen to article The Senate Standing Committee on National Food Security and Research, led by Senator Syed Masroor Ahsan, visited the Department of Plant Protection (DPP) head office to review key interventions made for improving sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) compliance and curbing maximum residue limit (MRL) violations in agricultural exports, particularly rice. The visit comes as recent reforms, spurred by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, have already led to a marked decline in export interceptions and noticeable improvements in compliance standards. The committee was briefed in detail by senior DPP officials, including Tahir Abbas (Director General), Muhammad Ishfaque (Deputy Director Quarantine) and Muhammad Basit (Director Quarantine), on the measures taken to align Pakistan's export framework with international food safety and plant protection standards. The committee noted the significant strides made in improving compliance, especially in light of the prime minister's directives issued in December 2024, which called for legal action against negligent officers and the immediate establishment of pesticide residue testing laboratories. These directives have shown concrete results. In 2023, Pakistan faced 61 interceptions of rice consignments by the European Union due to higher MRL and aflatoxins. The number rose to 106 in 2024, with 73 linked directly to pesticide residues. However, following reforms, the year 2025 has seen a notable decline, with only 30 interceptions recorded so far – just 13 related to MRL and 15 to aflatoxins. This decline is attributed to intensified monitoring, awareness campaigns for exporters and closer coordination between the DPP, provincial departments and industry stakeholders. Notably, pesticides such as Acetamiprid, Chlorpyrifos, Imidacloprid and Thiamethoxam were identified as primary contributors to MRL breaches. The committee also discussed progress in the maize sector. Maize is Pakistan's third major food grain, with annual production of 10.634 million tonnes over 1.72 million hectares. In 2023-24, exports peaked at 1.837 million tonnes but declined sharply in 2024-25 to just over 786,000 tonnes. While high domestic prices contributed to this drop, phytosanitary interceptions by Vietnam due to Khapra Beetle infestation also played a role. Following Vietnam's third warning and 72 reported interceptions, the DPP imposed a temporary two-week export ban and suspended responsible fumigators. Corrective actions such as the registration of 63 compliant storage godowns, traceability protocols and pest-specific fumigation SOPs were implemented. Additional efforts included stakeholder meetings, strict inspection regimes and firm control over the use of jute bags — a major source of infestation. The committee turned its attention to mango exports, with special emphasis on high-end markets such as Japan, Korea and the US, which have strict protocols including hot water treatment (HWT) and vapour heat treatment, among others. While the DPP has developed SOPs and installed CCTV surveillance systems for monitoring HWT facilities, the chairman raised concerns over operational irregularities.
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Business Standard
22-05-2025
- Climate
- Business Standard
UP mango farmers warned of pest risk after rain, hailstorm hit state
The recent rainfall, hailstorm and gusty winds are likely to cause pest infestation in mango crops across parts of Uttar Pradesh, and farmers have been advised to take timely action, a top research body official said on Thursday. Uttar Pradesh contributes one-third to the country's total mango production of 24 million tonne. Dashehari, Langra, Chuasa, and Amrapali are key mango varieties grown in the state. According to T Damodaran, Director of ICAR-Central Institute for Subtropical Horticulture, while the overall mango yield may not be impacted in Uttar Pradesh, some pockets of mango-growing regions may see pest attacks due to humid weather conditions following the rainfall and hailstorm. "Fruit flies and thrips in mango crops can increase post rains due to humid conditions and moisture in the soil, which are favourable for these pests' development and activity," he said, adding that farmers need to manage these pests after rainfall. Damodaran explained that if timely control of the first generation of fruit flies is not undertaken, their population will multiply in successive waves, coinciding with the ripening of the main mango crop. By the time the mangoes reach marketable maturity, the fly population can become alarmingly high. To control pests, Damodaran suggested that 'methyl eugenol traps' are an effective and eco-friendly method for managing male fruit flies, especially in mango. These traps are available in the market and can be installed by hanging them at a height of 1.5 to 2 metres, preferably in semi-shaded areas inside the tree canopy. Jaggery-based poison bait may be used to control adult fruit flies. About 20 grams of jaggery mixed with 100 parts water and 1 millilitre/litre of contact insecticide (such as Malathion 50 EC) may be used to prepare the bait. Farmers should do spot spraying of this poison bait mixture on tree trunks, lower branches, and foliage. The spraying should be avoided during rain or in bright midday sun, and should be applied in the morning or late afternoon. This may be repeated every 7-10 days. For the control of thrips, any of the insecticides such as Imidacloprid 17.8% SL (0.3 ml/L) or Thiamethoxam 25% WG (0.3 g/L) or Lambda cyhalothrin 5% EC (1 ml/L) or Tolfenpyrad 15% EC at 1.5 ml/L may be used. For semiloopers and Dudua (paired fruit borer), Lambda cyhalothrin 5% EC (1 ml/L) may be sprayed by targeting the new flush and fruits, he added. Bijnor, Saharanpur and Lucknow are some of the key growing areas that received rainfall on Wednesday. Mango fruit will be harvested in Uttar Pradesh from June.
Time of India
20-05-2025
- Climate
- Time of India
Black bug outbreak threatens sugarcane in UP; advisory issued
Bijnor: A severe outbreak of the black bug—locally known as kala chikta—has been reported in sugarcane fields across several parts of Uttar Pradesh, prompting the Sugar Department to issue an urgent advisory to farmers. The pest, which thrives in hot and dry conditions, typically attacks ratoon (regrown) sugarcane between April and June, stunting growth by sucking sap from the leaves. Infestation has also been accompanied by the pyrilla pest in some areas. Based on field inspections, scientists have advised farmers to irrigate their fields and destroy leftover stubble after harvest to curb the spread. In heavily infested fields, chemical pesticides such as Profenofos, Imidacloprid, Cypermethrin, Chlorpyrifos and Monocrotophos 36% SL have been recommended. Officials said that if pyrilla is more dominant and bio-parasites are present, chemical treatment may not be necessary. However, in cases of heavy black bug infestation—since there are no known parasites for black bugs—chemical control becomes essential. State president of Bharatiya Kisan Union Arajnaitik's youth wing, Digambar Singh, said, "Black bugs and pyrilla have affected large areas of sugarcane. Farmers are suffering massive losses. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like People Aged 50-85 With No Life Insurance Could Get This Reassured Get Quote Undo Sugar mills should provide subsidised pesticides to help them." Saharanpur's deputy cane commissioner OP Singh said, "Black bugs usually appear from April to June when the weather is hot and dry. Affected leaves turn yellow with brown spots, and larvae are often found between leaf curls and cane balls. Both adults and larvae suck the juice from the leaves, halting crop growth. In severe cases, holes form in the leaves." Notably, sugarcane is grown on 29 lakh hectares in the state, with more than 50 lakh farmers dependent on the crop.
BBC News
07-04-2025
- Health
- BBC News
More than 100 chemicals polluting South harbours
Researchers have found more than 100 unique chemical pollutants in two UK harbours, raising concerns about their impact on analysis of seawater, seaweed and shellfish from Langstone and Chichester harbours found chemical pollutants surged more than 100-fold after sewage found 105 unique pharmaceuticals, pesticides and illegal week Environment Agency data showed raw sewage was released into England's rivers and seas for a record 3,610,000 hours in 2024. The researchers were from Brunel University of London, the University of Portsmouth and Imperial College London, working with citizen scientists from the Clean Harbours study took 339 samples from 21 spots in the harbours, both Sites of Special Scientific Interest, during the spring and autumn of can slip through some wastewater treatment plants throughout the year but the autumn sampling coincided with rainy days, which caused combined sewer overflows (CSOs) to drive sewage into surface waters. "CSO discharges were an obvious source of chemical pollution in these waters," said Dr Thomas Miller from Brunel University of London, who led the study. "Our study found that some chemicals increased by over 100-fold in water after these discharges, making them a high risk to aquatic wildlife." An insecticide regularly used on domestic pets in flea and tick medication, Imidacloprid, was the highest risk based on levels found in surface water."Out of so many chemicals detected, the presence of pet tick and flea treatments in the harbours was especially concerning," said Dr Leon Barron, from Imperial College London."We urgently need to reassess the practice of blanket preventative treatment of our dogs and cats to help bring the risk down."The team's work will be published in the journal Environment International on Alex Ford, from the University of Portsmouth, added: "The impact of these contaminants we are yet to fully understand, but it's clear from our data that they increase substantially under storm events which discharge untreated sewage." You can follow BBC Hampshire & Isle of Wight on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
BBC News
26-03-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Rachel Gilmour MP raises pollution concerns over flea killer use
An MP has called for flea treatments for cats and dogs to be restricted after raising concerns about pollution in waterways. Speaking in Parliament on Tuesday, Rachel Gilmour, Liberal Democrat MP for Tiverton and Minehead, called for "strict" measures on the use of "spot-on" treatments, saying the chemicals used are harmful to wildlife, as well as response, Emma Hardy, the Parliamentary Undersecretary for the Environment, said the Veterinary Medical Directorate (VMD) had commissioned research to investigate the matter. DEFRA (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) said it will publish a "roadmap" within weeks to set out the work it is doing on the issue. Gilmour told the House of Commons she was concerned about toxic chemicals used in the treatments ending up in rivers and ponds, harming local wildlife. One of the ways the pesticides end up in waterways is because they are carried there by pets after having the treatment. "Dissemination can also occur because of rainwater run-off with residual product washing off from animals into drainage systems and in turn ending up in our waterways," said she did not call for a total ban, she added: "Restrictions should be placed on the trade of Fipronil and Imidacloprid, the only exceptional continued use should come under strict conditions of prescription only via veterinary medical professionals and for a limited time period."A report last year by Wild New Forest and the Freshwater Habitats Trust showed high levels of imidacloprid at four locations and previous research has found it negatively affected insect said: "The VMD is developing the evidence base and has commissioned scientific research to investigate how these substances reach rivers and streams and they are working closely with stakeholders to collect data and address the issue and they are supporting calls for a review of the internationally agreed environmental risk assessment standards."
