Amid rising health concerns, Punjab Agriculture Commissioner & experts ask for safeguards, responsible use of pesticides

Ms Babita, IAS, says agriculture practices have direct impact on health and environment, urges shift to sustainable practices at Regional Policy Dialogue

Chandigarh, June 5, 2025: At the Regional Policy Dialogue on Climate Change & Its Impact on Agriculture held on Thursday at the Panjab University, Babita, IAS, Agriculture Commissioner, Government of Punjab, made a strong case for overhauling agriculture policies in light of the growing public health and environmental crisis. Highlighting the alarming rise in cases of hypertension and kidney failures, she underlined the deep interconnection between agriculture and health.

“The overuse of pesticides and chemical fertilizers is not only depleting soil and water biodiversity but also contributing to serious health challenges. Agriculture and health are deeply linked, and the cost of ignoring this is simply too high,” she said.

Calling for a shift towards sustainable agriculture, Babita emphasized the importance of soil regeneration and reducing chemical inputs. While crop diversification offers a promising route to restore ecological balance, she stressed the need to support farmers through this transition. “Agriculture is also a business for farmers. The commercial impact of these changes cannot be overlooked. We must ensure that sustainable practices are both economically viable and socially inclusive,” she noted.

R K Sapra, IFS (Retd.), former Managing Director, Haryana Forest Development Corporation, noted, “Punjab and Haryana are among the highest consumers of chemical pesticides and fertilizers. This is severely affecting the health of both people and the planet. We cannot achieve true sustainability until we curb mindless use of chemicals.”

Dr P K Kingra, Head, Department of Climate Change and Agricultural Meteorology, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, said, “One of the gravest threats posed by climate change is to our water resources. Along with promoting crop diversity, we must invest heavily in water conservation strategies, including rainwater harvesting, to ensure long-term agricultural resilience. Direct Seeded Rice (DSR) is an innovative farming technique that can save 30–35% of irrigation water compared to traditional puddled transplanting, making it a crucial step toward sustainable and water-efficient rice cultivation.”

The event also celebrated innovation in sustainable agriculture through the Sustainability Awards, honouring individuals and institutions driving meaningful change. The Department of Soil & Water Conservation, Punjab was awarded for its pioneering efforts to conserve water and reverse groundwater depletion. Mohinder Singh Saini, Chief Conservator of Soils, received the award on behalf of the department, which has implemented treated water projects irrigating over 25,000 hectares, cutting groundwater drawl by half, and reducing electricity use across 12,000+ tube wells. The Reviving Green Revolution Cell was awarded for promoting Regenerative and No-Burn Agriculture to manage crop residue sustainably and reduce pollution. Dr Vinod Kumar Choudhary of Panjab University was felicitated for the Nanak Kheti model, a chemical-free, climate-resilient farming system that uses ten times less water while producing nutrient-rich, healing food. Jagdeepak Singh Gill was honoured for Project SATHI, India’s first Seed Traceability Portal, bringing transparency to Punjab’s seed supply chain.

As Punjab and Haryana confront an increasingly climate-uncertain future, the Dialogue reinforced the need for collaborative action, visionary leadership, and farmer-centric innovations that pave the way for a truly sustainable agri-future.

The Chandigarh edition of the Sustainability Matters and IndiAgri national dialogue series brought together experts from academia, government, agri-tech, and development organisation. With support from Haryana Dairy Development Cooperative Federation Ltd (HDCCF), Haryana State Cooperative Agriculture and Rural Development Bank Limited (HSCARDB), Haryana State Cooperative Apex Bank (HARCO Bank), Solidaridad, FIJEEHA, and the Centre for Environment and Development Studies (CEDS), the event highlighted regional insights and solutions tailored to Punjab and Haryana, two states critical to India’s agri-economy.