Farmers have begun to raise complaints against spurious pesticides and herbicides being sold through online trading platforms. Several said they were duped by the advertisements of a weedicide named Eloca Cyclosinone on social media.
Taking up the cudgels on behalf of the farmers, the Agro Inputs Dealers Association Kerala (AIDAK) has written to Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Shivraj Singh Chouhan seeking a ban on the sale of such spurious herbicides and weedicides.
AIDAK State president Subi Bhaskaran said that the weedicide Eloca Cyclosinone was sold through online platforms using social media publicity in violation of the norms existing in the country.
“The weedicide is being sold without the registration or permission of the Central Insecticides Board. It is being sold in violation of the Central Insecticides Act of 1968,” he said.
Mr. Bhaskaran also pointed out that the week killer was being sold by violating the Central GST Act as well. “They are charging a three per cent CGST. There is no such thing as three per cent,” he said.
Mr. Bhaskaran, in his complaint to the Union Agriculture Minister, pointed out that the product was being sold without any details on its package. “It does not carry the product name, the chemical name, the content, its registration number, its price, packing date and expiry date, and customer care number,” he said.
Some farmers who bought the product from online and used it said that they were duped. Mr. Bhaskaran too testified that it was not effective.
“I bought a packet by paying ₹ 380. It is in white granule form. I checked its efficacy, and found it not having any effect,” he said.
Published – September 22, 2025 07:04 pm IST