The workshop’s aim was to guide doctors dealing with accidental exposure incidents that occur during improper or unsafe application of agrochemicals
CropLife India, an association of 15 R&D driven crop science companies, in collaboration with the Department of Agriculture, Government of Maharashtra, organised a Continuing Medical Education (CME) programme for the doctors. The programme aimed to disseminate the information to the doctors and reorienting them on ’Principles of Recognition and Treatment of Accidental Agrochemical Exposure,’ ensuring medical practitioners are equipped to treat patients affected by agrochemical exposure.
The virtual conference was attended by around 1000 participants from government and private hospitals across three districts of Maharashtra – Yavatmal, Osmanabad and Jalgoan. The workshop was part of CropLife India’s Stewardship programme, which intends to guide the doctors to deal with accidental exposure incidents that occurred during the improper or unsafe application of agrochemicals.
Addressing the medical professionals, Dr Debabrata Kanungo, International Expert (Medical Toxicology, Human Health Risk Assessment and Food safety), Former Additional Director General, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India and Former Chairman, Scientific Panel on Pesticide Residues at FSSAI, said, “CropLife India has a history of creating awareness and building capacity on sustainable practices to farmers through its Stewardship programmes. CropLife India has been making a continuous effort through such programmes to reorient the doctors regarding the novel technologies of handling and managing exposure cases due to mishandling of agrochemicals. This virtual conference is an extension to the existing curriculum to support the farmer’s community and help doctors in dealing with the basic treatment for accidental agrochemical exposure.”
Sunil Borkar, Chief Quality Control Officer, Agriculture Department, Government of Maharashtra said, “Partnership of government and industry have been proven to provide the requisite knowledge transfer to the farmers to ensure safe and judicious use of agrochemical products. Awareness generation amongst the doctors will surely lead to timely intervention and management of farmers in case of any accidental exposure to pesticides. Our government is committed towards the sustainable growth of agriculture and continuous cognisance of the medical fraternity will aid the process.”
Asitava Sen, CEO, CropLife India, added, “CropLife India is committed to and has a long history for promoting safe and responsible use of crop protection products through Industry stewardship initiatives. It is widely understood that safe use of crop protection products helps to safeguard farmer’s wellbeing and encourages sustainable agriculture.”
CropLife India has developed a digital edition of Health Practitioners’ Handbook which is hosted on our website. Medical practitioners are requested to visit the CropLife India website croplifeindia.org and click on the ‘Doctors’ Manual’ tab on the top right corner.
Present in the Virtual Conference were Amol Yedge (IAS), District Collector, Yavatmal; Kaustaubh Diwegaonkar (IAS), District Magistrate & Collector, Osmanabad; Abhijit Raut (IAS), District Collector, Jalgoan; other senior government officials and delegates from our member companies and industry.
