Southern States - Kerala

Apprehensions over Endosulfan row in Kollam

By Ignatius Pereira

KOLLAM June 30. Though Kasaragod is a few hundred kilometres from Kollam, the controversy there over the use of the insecticide, Endosulfan, has its reverberations in Kollam too as the bone of contention centres around cashew.

The cashew industry is almost fully export-oriented. Hence cashew processors and exporters fear that the controversy over the use of Endosulfan on the sprawling cashew farms in Kasaragod district could adversely affect the prospects of processed cashew exports from here.

In fact, a couple of years ago there was apprehension when the U.S., the biggest importer of processed cashew from India, threatened suspension of imports when Endosulfan traces were detected in nut-based value-added products. Chronic vomiting among children who had consumed the nut-based products had created panic in that country at that time. However, proper laboratory tests revealed that peanut-based value-added products were the cause and since the peanuts in question did not originate from India, cashew was spared. Any product suspected to have traces of Endosulfan is banned in the U.S. and if cashew comes under such a suspicion it could lead to a ban on cashew imports.

Yet, it is a fact that Endosulfan was lavishly used as a pesticide in the State Government-owned cashew farms in Kasaragod till a few years ago. A strong agitation against the use of Endosulfan and the fear of a possible ban on Indian cashew by the U.S. are the main reasons for banning the use of Endosulfan in cashew farms then.

The controversy over the lifting of that ban now has caused apprehension in Kollam. Endosulfan is used as an effective insecticide to control tea mosquitoes that damage cashew crops at the flowering stage. However, it has been scientifically established that use of Endosulfan could lead to health problems. Endosulfan, an organochlorine compound, is branded as a dangerous `persistent organic pollutant'. On account of its link to cancer and other short and long-term effects on the hormones, immune, nervous and reproductive systems, there was a campaign for a ban on Endosulfan. It is also classified by the World Health Organisation as `hazardous' and in the U.S. as `highly hazardous'.

Its toxic properties, which are readily absorbed by the stomach, lungs and skin, have led to it topping the list of pesticide poisoning in many of the developing countries, especially in Asia, where it is widely used as an insecticide on various crops including rice.

Studies have shown that exposure to Endosulfan could damage the central nervous system, causes defects in the male reproductive system and reduce the quality of semen. It could cause breast cancer, affect the kidneys and liver, increase miscarriages and be the cause for birth deformities as it has properties to destroy chromosomes.

In Kasaragod, this insecticide was aerially sprayed to protect the 2,000- hectare cashew farms since the mid-1970s. Environmental activists there had, at the same time, begun observing its effects as a health hazard, especially on children, over the years. This resulted in the launch of various movements against the use of Endosulfan and the resultant ban.

Now, this ban has been lifted through a State Government Order, which states that Endosulfan could be used with the exception of aerial spraying. However, environmental activists argue that it is not the way in which it is used that causes health problems but its very use itself is hazardous.

This row has reached the Kerala High Court. The controversy has generated fear in Kollam for it could lead to the imposition of a U.S. ban on Kollam cashew. Those in the cashew sector even suspect a deep-rooted conspiracy for petty gains behind the move to lift the ban on the use of Endosulfan.

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