Zillur Rahman, a farmer of Tanore upazila in Rajshahi, lost vision in his left eye five years ago after a drop of pesticide got into the eye while carrying it on his head.
鈥楢fter mixing the granular pesticides with fertilisers on a sunny day, I was carrying them to my paddy field in a dish on my head. As I was sweating due to the heat and the fertilisers started melting on exposure to air, one drop of pesticide-mixed water rolled into my left eye, causing severe burning,鈥� he said.
Several months later Zillur came to know that the pesticide 鈥� Antracol 鈥� that cost him an eye was banned in various countries of the world, but is allowed in Bangladesh.
Not only Antracol (genetically propineb), several others pesticides and fungicides that are banned by various countries and international organisations are allowed in Bangladesh, said Bangladesh Resource Center for Indigenous Knowledge director Pavel Partha
He said that Bangladesh had cancelled several hazardous pesticides and fungicides like carbofuran and chlorpyrifos but they were still being found in the market and used by farmers.
BARCIK and Green Coalition jointly organised a seminar in Rajshahi on Monday where farmers who were affected by pesticides shared their experiences.
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