Is pesticide consumption in Indian farms the highest in the world? Several global reports have ranked India among leading pesticide consuming countries; but a new study says pesticide consumption is the lowest in India.

A report from the industry chamber Assocham says pesticide consumption in India is the lowest at 0.5 kg per hectare as against 17 kg per hectare of Taiwan, 12 in Japan, 6.6 Korea, 7 USA and 2.5 in Europe.

The report titled 'Pesticide Residues in Indian Food and Agricultural Products' debunks the perception that India is the largest user of pesticides.

But it points out that Indian food and agricultural products contain substantial quantities of pesticide residues as its farmers make indiscriminate use of fertilisers in the absence of adequate education.

"What is needed is a stronger farmer training programme that can educate them on the right dosage of pesticide usage," the report said.

It said the other reasons for high pesticide residue is the usage of sub-standard pesticides and wrong advice tenders issued to farmers by pesticide dealers which leads to inadequate treatment of effluents from pesticide manufacturing units.

The report states that in countries like USA, Europe, Taiwan, Japan and Korea, the supplies of pesticides are affected in volumes with absolutely scientific methods for their spray as landscape in these countries are so huge that proportionate use of pesticides is done in a meticulous manner as their farmers are well awakened.

But in India things are entirely different and for obtaining higher yields, indiscriminate use of chemical fertilisers go totally unchecked by its farmers.

The report, which has been submitted to the government, has suggested that only recommended doses of fertilizers to kill pests should be effected by farmers and pesticide treatment both prophylactic and control should be judicious.