CropLife India has launched a nationwide digital awareness campaign aimed at tackling illicit pesticides and helping farmers make informed choices when purchasing crop protection products.

 

Launched by Ramnath Thakur, Minister of State for Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, the campaign carries the theme “Jagruk Kisan bane, asali kitaknashak chune” and will roll out across 13 states, with an ambitious target of reaching more than 2.5 million farmers.

 

The campaign will cover Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, Maharashtra and Gujarat. Its messages will be delivered in Hindi, Telugu, Marathi, Tamil and Punjabi, focusing on how farmers can identify and avoid illicit pesticides, choose genuine products and follow safe application practices.

 

Launching the initiative, Thakur stressed that farmer awareness and access to genuine agricultural inputs are critical to protecting crops, improving productivity and securing livelihoods.

 

“Farmers are at the heart of India’s agricultural progress. Ensuring that they are aware of how to identify genuine agricultural inputs is essential to protecting their crops, improving productivity and securing their livelihoods. The fight against illicit pesticides requires collective action from farmers, manufacturers, dealers, scientists, government agencies and all other stakeholders.

 

"I commend CropLife India for launching this digital awareness campaign across 13 states and in multiple Indian languages. By taking the message directly to millions of farmers, this initiative can play an important role in strengthening awareness about genuine products, safe use and responsible crop protection practices. I urge all stakeholders to actively support this initiative and work together towards a safe, sustainable and prosperous agricultural sector,” he said.

 

Pesticides are vital to protecting crops from pests and diseases, limiting production losses and supporting farm productivity. But access to genuine, quality products—and knowledge of their safe and effective use—is equally important.

 

CropLife India said illicit pesticides can undermine crop protection efforts and expose farmers to avoidable economic losses. The campaign will therefore urge farmers to purchase products only from trusted and authorised sources and make informed decisions before using them.

 

The campaign will promote practical steps including: Beware of illicit pesticides. Choose quality and genuine pesticides. Purchase products from trusted and authorised sources. Always ask for an invoice or bill for every purchase.

 

Speaking on the occasion, Durgesh Chandra, Secretary General, CropLife India, said the campaign was aimed at putting practical information directly in farmers’ hands.

 

“As India enters its 80th years of Independence of freedom, empowering our farmers with knowledge is fundamental to building a stronger and more prosperous India. The fight against illicit pesticides requires a collective effort. 

 

"Through this campaign, we aim to reach more than 2.5 million farmers with practical information on choosing genuine products, asking for a Bill on every purchase, safe and responsible crop protection use. An informed farmer is better equipped to protect crops, reduce avoidable losses and contribute to a safer and more sustainable agricultural ecosystem.”

 

Under the campaign, CropLife India is also calling on farmers, agricultural input dealers, manufacturers, scientists, government agencies and other stakeholders to join a collective pledge: 'Say No to Illicit Pesticides. Choose Safe Agriculture. Build a Prosperous India.'

 

The campaign seeks to turn farmer awareness into action by promoting genuine agricultural inputs, responsible pesticide use and safer crop protection practices across some of India’s key agricultural states.