Pesticide spraying in cashew plantations of North Malabar

While issuing the stay order, the Hon’ble Munsiff noted that “The Stand taken by the respondents ( the PCK ) is that of a heartless industrialist. They say that use of insecticides would bring more profit and more foreign exchange. But it cannot be at the cost of human lives…. Certainly we have power to destroy nature, but the question is whether we have the wisdom to preserve it…

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From: Jayakumar 
To: steve Tvedten 
Subject: note on the cashew issue

dear steve
this is an old note and much has happened after that in terms of work but this will give an idea about the background.

jayan

Pesticide spraying in cashew plantations of North Malabar

Kasaragod district, which lies in the northern end of the state of Kerala, is a peculiar lateritic hills and valleys and rich in biological wealth. These lateritic hills were once common lands providing all the essential things from food to fibre to fuel to the communities settled around the hills. Seasonal cultivation of food crops was practiced on these hills utilizing the rainfall till very recently.

During Portugese invasion to Kerala, they brought cashew to this land and its cultivation became popular. The cashew cultivation need only very little care and cashew was an export item even at that time which bring income to the farmers without much effort. After independence assessing the laterite hills as a waste land, the Government sponsored cashew cultivation in a big way. People started cultivating cashew in their own private holdings and Government in the public lands available with them. Large chunks of the land in Kannur and Kasaragod districts are now under cashew cultivation. The area under cashew cultivation in Kasaragod is 26,600 ha.

In Kasaragod district, apart from the private owned plantations under cashew cultivation, there are three plantations owned by the Plantation Corporation of Kerala.

Kasaragod Estate: The cashew plantations of Periye, Muliyar, Adhur and Perla come under this with a total area of 2,209 ha.

Rajapuram Estate: The plantations in Painikara, Kanady and Panathur with a total area of 1,526 ha.

Cheemeni Estate: With a total area of 980 ha.

This plantation has started in1963 by the Government. Until then this area was used by the local communities for cultivating paddy, pulses cassava, vegetables and other seasonal crops and it also served as a grazing land since, for most of the local people, raising cattle was a way of life. Since these hillocks were common lands not owned by a particular person or a community, they did not get any compensation in terms of money or any right to use the area legally. Also they believed that this sort of Government sponsored schemes will bring development to them and few people got employment.

In 1997, this cashew plantation was taken over by PCK. From 1963 onwards as a part of management of the plantation, agrochemicals were used in all the estates. Hand pumps were used for spraying pesticides at that time. Toxic chemicals like Endrin were in use at that time and no precautions were given to the workers while spraying. Like doing any other work in the plantation, they resorted to this spraying operation in their usual dress dhoti and shirt. They never even covered their nose or mouth with a cloth while spraying.

By the time PCK took over the management of the plantations, it was well established and started yielding. They continued the management as before and in 1980 they started the aerial spraying programme saying that this is the most effective and economic way of managing the pests of a plantation.

The main pest identified in the plantation was Tea- Mosquito or Cashew Mirid (Helopettis antonii). Population of this insect in the field starts building up from October coinciding with the emergence of new flushes. Population reaches peak in the blossom period in January. Highly significant negative correlation exists between the mosquito population and climatological factors like rainfall, humidity and minimum temperature. The insect feed from tender shoots and inflorescence resulting in drying up of both. The loss from this is calculated to be as high as 30%. To counter this loss the PCK is resorting to aerial spraying of Endosulfan, which is recommended by the entomologists. Aerial is undertaken three times a year, one at the time of emergence of flushes, second at the emergence of panicles and third at the time of fruitset .

According to the Insecticides Act 1968, before resorting to aerial spraying some precautionary measures should be undertaken.

People living in the locality should be informed well in advance prior to the application of the pesticide. All the water bodies in the locality should be covered well in order to prevent the chemical from getting into water.. The aerial spraying in cashew plantations should be undertaken from 2 to 3 metres above the canopy. All measures should be taken to handle any accident. Trained personal should be doing the spray. Only the chemicals that are recommended for aerial spraying should be used.

The notice issued by the PCK before spraying does not indicate the exact date on which the spraying will be done. It does not mention about the chemical but says that while spraying is done nobody should eat any food or smoke from the plantation. People should not take grass or food items from the plantations for 20 days after spraying. Also cattle should not be allowed to enter the plantation and eat grass during the same period. Corporation will take the responsibility of covering the wells inside the plantation and in the border areas. Without following all these conditions while spraying, if any person faces some loss or grief, it is not the responsibility of the PCK to compensate him or her. The irony is that this notice is put in front of some of the offices or clubs in the area. Most of the people won’t see such a notice and many of them can not read since they are illiterate. In the notice there is no mention of exposures, which the people may have to face during spraying if they go out of the house. Most of the pesticides enter the human body through inhalation and through the skin, which is sure to happen in area where aerial spraying is undertaken.

Even if there is mention about it the people in this area won’t be able to follow it because most of them are either agriculturists or labourers who have to go out of the house every day for a living. So they are bound to get a spray of all the deadly chemicals. Out of curiosity, children come out of the houses to watch the helicopter or they go to school or play outside while the spraying is done, and they are also sure to receive some chemicals in their tender bodies. Apart from this the workers also affected because while spraying they will be standing in the field and there was a practice of keeping the labourers in the borders of the plantation as signposts to show the pilot the boundary of the plantation.

In the developed world where all these technology developed and where they undertake aerial spraying, have come out saying only 1% of the chemical reach the target pest by aerial spraying. Others get drifted to the neighboring areas and also through the air can get drifted to far away places. So the unwarned people also get a quota of these chemicals unknowingly.

In Periye plantation, there is yet another hurdle for the helicopter while undertaking spraying. There are two power lines going through the plantation and so the helicopters can not fly from 2 to 3 metres above the canopy, which is the stipulated height for aerial spraying in the cashew plantation according to the Insecticides Act. So in Periye only a small quantity of chemical will be reaching the target pest. There are reports of accidental fall of drums containing chemicals to the nearby wells.

Although PCK claims that they are taking all the precautionary measures like covering the wells with coconut leaves, it is understood that they just give two or three coconut leaves to some houses in the locality. (People living near Cheemeni plantation had come out with a complaint in 1978 that covering the wells with coconut leaves are totally inadequate and the chemicals are getting in to the wells. They demanded that at least the wells should be covered tightly with polythene or some other cover. In Cheemeni not only the local people but passers by are also getting drenched with chemicals on their way to the office or other places.) . Also it is not possible to cover all the ponds and streams which is a part of their landscape. There WHO regulation itself saying that Endosulfan and Carbaryl should not be sprayed over water bodies. But it is being violated here.

The cattle in the area are also not protected. Even if they are kept inside during spraying, after one or two days they will be grazing in the open grasslands near the plantation. All the chemicals used here are more or less persistent and their effect will be prolonged at least for few weeks. So the cattle is sure to get all the residual pesticides in the soil as well as vegetation orally or dermally. Studies conducted by UPASI revealed that in tea plantations of South India where Endosulfan was in use, the chemical remain at least for 5 years and there is no use in undertaking analysis up to 5 years for residue as they will be there. In tea plantations, use of endosulfan is restricted and avoided.

 PERIYA

The local people in Periya started complaining about the problems of aerial spraying from 1994 onwards – especially about the health problems ( a brief note is attached) which they experience and the inefficiency of aerial spraying. They had given complaints to all the concerned officials and authorities but nothing happened. They waited for a favorable reply but lost hope and at last they had to depend on the court to interfere in the matter. Meanwhile people from Cheemeni and GM plantations came out with same complaints about aerial spraying.

People from Periya pointed that most of the chemical is getting drifted and does not reach the target because of the high velocity of wind during the spraying season and also because of the height from which spraying is undertaken. They also mentioned that the smog formation after the spraying operation which persist for two or three days suffocate them and they are unable to find any cure for the diseases which follow. In 1998 they got a favorable order from the Munsif Court which said that people’s health is much more important than the economic profit which the state gains by undertaking such practice as aerial spraying. It also added that we cannot create environment but at least can restrain ourselves from harming it.

So PCK could not undertake aerial spraying in Periya plantation in 1998-99. But in other plantations the spraying was continued and in Periya also Endosulfan was sprayed using rocker sprayer. But in spite of all these measures, the cashew flowers dried and the yield reduced. It happened in all the plantations of Kannur and Kasaragod districts. Farmer’s organizations came out with statements about the loss due to this unexpected damage. They reasoned it as the sudden climatic change, high temperature during daytime and cool temperatures at night during January, as the cause for this drying up. Many individual farmers whom we met also said the same thing. But the PCK came out with a statement that this happened just because they could not undertake aerial spraying to control tea mosquito, which made all this havoc. Scientists also agreed to this and they also found a fungus in addition to the tea mosquito, which is supposed to be endangering the plantation. Their suggestions for this year and coming years hence include insecticide like Carbaryl, Quinalphos and Mancozeb in addition to Endosulfan.

It is true that the plantation in Periya was dried and damaged to a large extent last year. But the question is why this happened. And also what happened to other plantations in Kasaragod and Kannur districts where spraying was undertaken. A detailed historical analysis revealed that this phenomenon of drying up happened in all the plantations including the Aralam farm in Kannur district where they resorted to aerial spraying of Endosulfan. People living near the plantations also said that the drying of the tree itself is happening for the last few years because of stem borer attack. They are of the opinion that stem borer became a problem in the plantations only after the application of fertilizers started in the plantation few years back.

Neglecting the arguments and appeal from the people, PCK made all arrangements this year also and has started the aerial spraying. Under these circumstances some questions have to be raised and some clarifications have to be made.

 Now all over the world a new approach – Integrated Farming Approach – is getting deep rooted acceptance among farmers. It is possible only through the widespread adoption of sustainable non-chemical management practices and moving away from monoculture of a few selected crops.

International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements ( IFOAM ) has given some recommendations to move away from chemically intensive cashew production to an organic production of cashew. According to IFOAM, agricultural policies in the past have resulted in higher production levels but at the cost of a long-term degradation of environment.

Their suggestions include: Selection of seedlings suitable to the local climatic and other factors Prevention of erosion by soil conservation methods

By planting on contours By growing soil covers in empty places By abolishing clean weeding By making silt traps in drains Replanting at the proper time Improve soil organic matter and soil microorganisms by growing legumes by adding compost etc. Pruning at the correct time All available organic material should be recycled.

 For the organic production, it is not enough that the crop is grown without the use of chemical fertilizers, pesticide etc. but a crop becomes organic when the management used will sustain soil fertility and reduce erosion and environmental degradation.

It means that a proper care of the field and crop is necessary. But these changes in attitude to management will not only give employment opportunities but also relieve us from the burden of toxic chemicals in soil, water and food, which can harm generations to come. PCK is far away from all these current practices and recommendations as is evidenced by the application of endosulfan and other chemicals in the newly planted nursery and replanted areas of their plantations in Periya, Muliyar and other places.

People’s Struggle at Periya

From 1994 itself the people of Periya have been complaining about the difficulties they have because of the aerial spraying of Endosulfan. They approached all the concerned authorities but no action was taken. Sri. Satyajit Rajan, when he was the District Collector, gave an oral instruction that from the next spraying organic pesticides should be used. But there was no follow up on this order. Finally, the people lost hope and approached the Court. A Case was filed in the Munsif Court by Leelakumari, a local resident and two others asking for stopping the aerial spraying of Endosulfan. The PCK defended their operation by stating economic reasons for the spraying. They also said that the pesticide used does not cause pollution and is not toxic. They also submitted a memorandum signed by 75 people stating that they welcomed the spraying. After hearing the arguments, the Hon’ble Court stayed the spraying through an interim order. While issuing the stay order, the Hon’ble Munsiff noted that “The Stand taken by the respondents ( the PCK ) is that of a heartless industrialist. They say that use of insecticides would bring more profit and more foreign exchange. But it cannot be at the cost of human lives…. Certainly we have power to destroy nature, but the question is whether we have the wisdom to preserve it…” The PCK then went for an appeal to the Subordinate Court of Hosdurg. In June 1999, the Subordinate Court also dismissed the appeal.

By now, more people were joining the issue, though their voices still remained localized. The “Vikasanarekha” of the panchayath also mentions thus “moreover, in the cashew plantations in Chalinkal, Periya, Kayakulam, Pannikunnu, Madathumpara and other places helicopter spraying of pesticides is being done without finding out whether it is needed or not. This is causing skin diseases and other incurable diseases. It is also poisoning the wells and other water bodies”. Society for Environmental Education in Keralam (SEEK) and Kasargod Jilla Paristhithi Samithi came forward to support the people. SEEK sent an appeal to the Managing Director of the PCK, which was also published in their environmental education magazine Soochimuki. They also conducted a health cum socio-economic survey of some of the wards in the village. This survey is to be completed soon.

After the PCK’s appeal was dismissed in the lower court, they approached the High Court of Keralam through a Revision Petition. They challenged the lower court ruling stating that huge losses were incurred because spraying could not be done last season. The PCK misled the court into believing that there was no problem to the local people due to the spraying. In their affidavit, they stated that there are no families living near the plantation and that the petitioners were living about 750 m away from the plantation border. They also submitted that the High Tension Electric lines were not situated over the plantations. The Court gave a favorable interim order asking the PCK to make all the necessary preparations for spraying, but to obtain the permission of the court before the actual spraying. INTACH( Natural Heritage) and Thanal Conservation Action & Information Network, both Public Interest Organisations based in Thiruvananthapuram also joined the issue in support of the people. The toxic effects of Endosulfan, the ineffectiveness and hazards of aerial spraying and documentation of various case studies of pesticide (especially endosulfan) poisoning all over the world were collected. Two fresh Public Interest Litigations were filed, one by SEEK and the other by Leelakumari. A stay order was issued by the Hon’ble Court on the latter. The High Court later vacated the stay, stating technical ground. At the same time, a couple of meetings were organised by the local people along with other support organisations. The people decided to intensify the campaign.

Meanwhile, the PCK approached the High Court requesting permission to spray, stating that all preparations have been made for the spraying. According to the affidavit filed, they have spent more than 24 lakh rupees towards purchase of endosulfan and towards contract for aerial spraying. Once again the PCK misled the court, as this expenditure was not just for Periya alone but for the whole of the Kasargod plantations of which Periya is the smallest one. The Court gave an interim order “allowing spraying during November” and also stated that “ operation of this order will be subject to the result of the Original Petition(OP)”. The OP, which is in the Lower court, is currently being argued. A commission has been ordered, especially to verify the various contentions of the PCK and its report submission is being awaited. The PCK attempted aerial spraying on 4th December without giving advance notice to the people. Earlier the notice issued by the PCK as required in the Insecticides Act announced that the spraying will be done before 30th November. Violating the Act they attempted aerial spraying on 4th which was abandoned within 15 minutes because the local people tried to photograph the helicopter spraying well above the 3 metre maximum height allowed by the High Court. The people then approached the District Collector and submitted a memorandum of appeal signed by about 150 locals. A Preliminary Documentation Report of the issue was also submitted to the Collector. The Collector considered the gravity of issue and refused permission to the PCK to undertake aerial spraying. In January, this year, the PCK approached the court asking for permission for the second round of spraying. The Court rejected the application on technical grounds – saying that the Revision Petition had been closed earlier on 13th of January. PCK has now approached the Munsif Court with a new petition seeking permission for the second round of spraying. The Court will be hearing the matter on the 2nd of February.

Support for the people at Periya has come from other organisations as well. On the 2nd of December, the eve of the 15th remembrance of the Bhopal Tragedy, organisations like the National Alliance for People’s Movement (NAPM) and the Earth Society along with SEEK, Kasargod Jilla Paristhithi Samithi, INTACH and Thanal jointly declared the PCK as causing the silent and unknown Bhopal in the North Malabar cashew plantations. On the 3rd the Pesticide Action Network based in North America declared the day as “No Pesticide Use Day” with focus on the issue of Endosulfan spraying in the Cashew plantations of North Keralam. Ironically, it was on the same day that the High Court vacated the stay on the spraying operation through an interim order.

Presently, the legal fight against the PCK is going on at both the lower courts and the High Court. In the Munsiff Court, a Court Commission was appointed and evidence has already been collected. The report of the commission is expected.

Health issues at Periya

The health effects of short and long term use and exposure to organochlorine pesticides, such as Endosulfan have been extensively researched all over the world. Most of these studies were done on mammalian creatures – rats, mice, dogs etc. Some studies that show data on human beings, is more from real exposure cases – from pesticide sprayed areas in many parts of the world. Endosulfan is a highly toxic pesticide and is classified in toxicity class of EPA (Environmental Protection Agency). It is a Restricted Use Pesticide.

In Periya, the people started objecting to the aerial spraying of pesticide only when they started realizing that the many diseases that they were suffering from may be due to this. The diseases were affecting men, women and children and most of them are never cured. Even cattle were affected and sometimes die soon after the spraying. Through out the years that spraying has been done, acute toxicity related health problems were there, but it seems that the people never really realised that it would ultimately affect them on a long term. Moreover, they believed that a Government owned corporation would never do anything to harm them.

Apart from the plantation workers, the most affected seemed to be women and children. A large number of women were suffering from some sort of gynecological disorder or other. Increased frequency of periods (two or even three per month), writhing lower abdomen pain especially during and before periods, uterus problems leading to surgery and removal, unnatural and profuse bleeding etc were just some of them. Most of the women were suffering from other related problems like swelling of the body, fatigue to acute levels, palpitation, thyroid imbalances, headaches and swoons to even cases of breast cancer. Some girls in their early twenties or late teens have irregular periods with periods sometimes stopping for months or having many cycles (two or three) in a month. Many women take hormonal treatment before marriage to correct their hormonal cycle. Women who were in their thirties looked in their fifties. Women complained that they get very tired even with two hours of work when earlier they used to work for more than 8 hours every day.

Men suffer from fatigue, headache, skin and respiratory problems. Many men suffer from stomachache. Many have died of cancer. Cancer of the throat seems to be quite common. Some young men in their mid-twenties look only in their late teens. They are so worried about this loss of growth, which they feel is not treatable at all. There were also men who looked as old as 50 but was only in their thirties. The local doctor also confirmed that infertility is high among men in some areas of Periya. Boys with developing breasts have also been treated by the local doctor.

As regards children, asthma and respiratory problems were very common. Many have had this from birth itself and many are born underweight. Parents complained that their children were suffering from a variety of diseases, most of which remain to be diagnosed. Skin ailments, respiratory and gastroenteritis related illness, frequent headaches, eye burns, and fever were all reported by most of the parents. The local doctor reported of cases with sugar deficiencies or diabetes even in small children.

Most of the workers suffer from various ailments indubitably caused by pesticide poisoning. Chronic skin diseases –psoriasis, eczema, chronic pulmonary problems, fatigue, loss of appetite and other stomach disorders were some of the health problems they were suffering from. Most of them who are directly involved in the spraying activity do not know and are neither told of the toxicity of the pesticide or fungicide they are spraying nor about the precautionary measures that have to be taken when mixing/loading and applying such poisonous chemicals. They are not given any training or any sort of protective clothing. Last year, when the court stayed aerial spraying, the workers were asked to apply endosulfan using rocker sprayers. They were drenched in pesticides and had to wash themselves repeatedly during the spraying to avoid irritation. Some of the workers who had earlier died in Periya had died of cancer. One ex-worker had been operated for throat cancer. He does not work any longer and his family is in an abject state of poverty. He was the one who revealed that earlier Endrin was used and he had buried the remaining stock inside the plantation after it was banned.

 ++++++++++++

 Jayakumar C. Co ordinator Thanal Conservation Action and Information Network, P B # 815 , Kawdiar , Thiruvananthapuram , Kerala , India. Pin 695 003 

mail : thanal@vsnl.com Tel :++91-471-311896 Fax :++91-471-435452

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