India’s growing dependence on chemical herbicides has triggered alarm among health experts, environmentalists, and farming communities. A recent report, Status of Herbicides in India, published by the Savitri Waney Charitable Foundation with research support from Thanal Conservation Action and Pesticide Action Network (PAN) India, highlights the rising production and use of herbicides in the country and their harmful effects on people and the environment.
The report states that herbicides, chemicals used to kill unwanted plants, were introduced to India in the 1950s with the use of 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid, commonly known as 2,4-D. Since then, their usage has grown steadily. “Every day, many farmers, farm workers, women and children are unwittingly becoming targets of herbicide exposure,” the authors note.
According to government data cited in the study, India’s herbicide production rose from 48,630 metric tonnes in 2021 to 59,713 metric tonnes in 2022. Consumption has also increased, from 3,139 metric tonnes in 2017–18 to more than 4,000 metric tonnes in 2021–22. The herbicides 2,4-D, glyphosate, and butachlor are among the most widely used. Both 2,4-D and glyphosate have been classified as potential human carcinogens by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC).
Despite their risks, herbicides are now among the most produced and consumed agrochemicals in India. The report notes that the country has registered 87 herbicides for use, 20 of which are listed as Highly Hazardous Pesticides (HHPs) by PAN International. “Thirty herbicides registered in India are banned in other countries due to high toxicity and adverse effects,” the report states.
The herbicide affects the liver, kidneys, and lungs, causing respiratory distress and multiple organ failure. Doctors in Odisha described the situation as ‘helpless,’ noting the lack of treatment options for poisoning victims.
Experts say weak regulation has allowed these dangerous chemicals to remain in use. The Insecticide Act of 1968 governs the approval of all pesticides in India, but herbicides are not covered under any specific rule. Many herbicides currently sold in India were registered before the 1968 Act came into force and were “deemed to be registered” without undergoing the required safety reviews. “India’s regulation of herbicides is inadequate, opaque and largely zero,” the report warns.
The health impact of herbicides is severe. Long-term exposure has been linked to respiratory illness, hormonal disruption, neurological disorders, and reproductive harm. “Low dose kills you slowly, high dose kills you swiftly,” the authors write, describing the broad range of health issues connected to herbicide exposure.
Herbicides such as glyphosate and paraquat dichloride have been linked to serious diseases, including Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, and various cancers. Glyphosate has been at the center of major lawsuits in the United States, where farmers exposed to the chemical won millions of dollars in compensation after developing non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and other cancers.
In India, paraquat dichloride has been particularly deadly. Between 2017 and 2019, nearly 200 cases of paraquat poisoning were reported at the Veer Surendra Sai Institute of Medical Sciences and Research in Odisha. “Because antidotes are not known to paraquat, survival chances are low,” the report says. The herbicide affects the liver, kidneys, and lungs, causing respiratory distress and multiple organ failure. Doctors in Odisha described the situation as “helpless,” noting the lack of treatment options for poisoning victims.
Herbicide poisoning, both accidental and intentional, is common in rural India. Many of these chemicals are easily available, making them a frequent means of suicide. The report notes that “individuals from rural areas constitute the majority of the victims” and that many cases go unreported or are misdiagnosed due to lack of awareness among medical professionals.
Farmers and agricultural laborers face the highest risk of exposure. Herbicides are often applied without proper protective equipment, especially in hot and humid conditions. Chemicals can enter the body through skin contact, inhalation, or contaminated food and water. The report explains that oral exposure can occur when workers eat soon after spraying or when herbicide containers are stored near food. Inhalational exposure happens when aerosols drift from sprayed fields into nearby homes or public spaces.
Women and children are especially vulnerable. Women farmworkers are at risk due to hormonal sensitivity and higher fat content in their bodies, which can store toxic residues. Pregnant women face risks of miscarriage and birth defects. Children are exposed through contaminated air, water, and soil, and by playing in treated fields or handling empty containers. “Exposure to herbicides is increasing the risk of cancers, birth deformities, reproductive problems, neurodevelopmental disorders and other diseases among children,” the report warns.
Beyond health, herbicides also threaten India’s biodiversity. They destroy not only weeds but also beneficial plants that sustain soil health and wildlife. “The notion that all weeds are a menace to agriculture is a fallacy,” the report states. Many so-called weeds are edible greens that rural women traditionally collect and cook at home. Their elimination affects both nutrition and ecological balance.
The authors argue that the widespread promotion of herbicides by manufacturers and even state agricultural programs ignores these dangers. In some cases, government-approved crop packages recommend herbicide use, contradicting national safety guidelines. “Manufacturing companies are producing them at a competitive price for both domestic use and export,” the report notes, despite bans in many other countries.
The Savitri Foundation and its partners call for urgent policy reform. They recommend stronger regulation, transparency in pesticide registration, and promotion of agroecological alternatives. PAN India advocates for reducing dependence on toxic agrochemicals and training farmers in non-chemical weed management practices.
The report concludes that India needs an immediate review of its herbicide policies to prevent further harm. “Prolonged use of herbicides has undoubtedly been endangering many lives,” the authors write. Without stronger regulation and awareness, the continued expansion of herbicide use could pose one of the most serious public health and environmental challenges in the country.
Support us to keep independent environmental journalism alive in India.
Keep Reading
Highway Halt Puts Kashmir’s Fruit Economy at Risk
MP brings back Bhavantar as farmers lose soybean harvests
Stay connected with Ground Report for underreported environmental stories.
Follow us onX, Instagram, and Facebook; share your thoughts at greport2018@gmail.com; subscribe to our weekly newsletter for deep dives from the margins; join our WhatsApp community for real-time updates; and catch our video reports on YouTube.
Your support amplifies voices too often overlooked, thank you for being part of the movement.
