Exposure to chemical pesticides while spraying in the field has also become a major health problem for farmers in Karimnagar district.
Though, there is no serious pest attack in the district, the farmers, in order to reap riches, have been using pesticides extensively and as a result are suffering from various ailments. Recently, a farmer D Narsaiah reportedly died after inhaling the vapour while spraying pesticides in his fields in Rajalingapet village of Medipalli mandal. This is first such incident in which a farmer died due to inhalation of the pesticide.
However, majority of farmers suffer from various ailments due to spraying of pesticides such as nausea, skin disorders and digestive problems and other.
Majority of farmers spray chemicals without taking basic safety precautions such as wearing mask and gloves. Many a time they inhale the pesticide while spraying it against the wind direction.
The skin when it gets in contact with the pesticide on leads to several problems as it would be absorbed into the body through pores.
Raji Reddy, a farmer from Manakondur mandal said that farmers have been habituated to spraying pesticide without using the protection gear. Sometimes, even school children were forced to spray pesticides in the villages, he stated.
Expressing concern over farmers not following minimum safety precautions while spraying pesticide, Joint Director (Agriculture) Shatru Naik said that they were educating the farmers to use gloves, spectacles, mask around the mouth and nose and shower bath after completion of the spraying, but in vain. Only few farmers follow all the norms, he said and added that majority of the farmers do not even wash their hands with soap after spraying the pesticide and consume food.
Source : The Hindu
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