12 August 2026, New Delhi: CropLife India has launched a digital awareness campaign aimed at helping farmers identify and avoid illicit pesticides, with the initiative targeting more than 2.5 million farmers across 13 states.
The campaign, formally launched by Ramnath Thakur, Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, carries the theme “Be an Aware Farmer, Choose Genuine Pesticide”.
The campaign will cover Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, Maharashtra and Gujarat. Awareness messages will be disseminated in Hindi, Telugu, Marathi, Tamil and Punjabi.
The initiative focuses on helping farmers distinguish genuine crop-protection products from illicit or unauthorised pesticides and promoting responsible use. The campaign will also encourage farmers to purchase products from authorised sources and obtain an invoice or bill for every purchase.
Launching the campaign, Thakur said awareness about genuine agricultural inputs was important for protecting crops, improving productivity and safeguarding farm incomes.
“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,” he said.
Thakur added that addressing illicit pesticides requires coordination among farmers, manufacturers, dealers, scientists and government agencies. He also urged stakeholders to support initiatives aimed at improving awareness of genuine products and safe crop-protection practices.
Pesticides are widely used to protect crops from pests and diseases and to reduce production losses. CropLife India said the campaign will therefore focus on practical guidance for farmers, including checking product labels, using the recommended dose and application method, wearing appropriate personal protective equipment and seeking advice from qualified agricultural professionals where necessary.
The campaign’s key messages include purchasing pesticides from trusted and authorised sources, asking for an invoice or bill, checking product labels and following recommended application practices.
Focus on farmer awareness
Durgesh Chandra, Secretary General, CropLife India, said improving farmer awareness would be important in addressing the issue of illicit pesticides.
“Empowering our farmers with knowledge is fundamental to building a stronger and more prosperous India. The fight against illicit pesticides requires a collective effort,” Chandra said.
He said the campaign aims to reach more than 2.5 million farmers with information on selecting genuine products, obtaining bills for purchases and adopting safe and responsible crop-protection practices.
CropLife India is also calling on farmers, agricultural-input dealers, manufacturers, scientists and government agencies to participate in the campaign under the message: “Say No to Illicit Pesticides. Choose Safe Agriculture. Build a Prosperous India.”
According to the association, the campaign forms part of its focus on safe pesticide use, sustainable agriculture and farmer awareness.
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