In the heart of India’s cotton growing regions, a silent crisis is unfolding. Farmers and villagers in areas like Punjab and Vidarbha are reporting worrying health issues. They speak of a metallic taste in the air and stinging eyes, particularly after the spraying season. Neighbours mention tightened throats and persistent coughs in infants. These are not just minor discomforts; they are signs of a wider problem: pesticide drift.
Studies by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) have confirmed these fears. They found pesticide residues in the air and rainwater, sometimes as far as 10-15 kilometres from cotton fields. This means that sprays meant for crops are carried by the wind and rain, settling over homes, schools, and even water bodies in an unseen mist.
Scientific and government data backs up what rural communities have long suspected. A 2023 protocol from the CPCB explicitly warns that volatile pesticides can travel far beyond the fields they are sprayed on. This contamination affects not only the air but also the local environment. Field studies in Maharashtra’s Yavatmal and Akola districts detected organophosphates and pyrethroids in the air and rain during the peak spraying times. In Punjab’s Bathinda and Mansa, PAU researchers discovered pesticide residues not just on the cotton plants but also in dust collected from rooftops and in well water.
This issue affects many cotton-growing areas across India. In Telangana’s Warangal, surveys in 2021 showed that pesticide drift was impacting nearby villages. In Andhra Pradesh’s Guntur district, health workers reported instances of nausea and eye irritation among families living close to cotton fields. Similar complaints of health problems arose during intense spraying in Gujarat’s Bharuch and Surendranagar areas.
Maharashtra’s Vidarbha region has seen recurring incidents of poisoning over the past decade. Hundreds of cotton farm labourers have been hospitalised due to exposure during busy spraying seasons. Doctors at Yavatmal’s Government Medical College observe a significant rise in pesticide poisoning cases each monsoon, which coincides with cotton spraying activities. The National Institute of Occupational Health (NIOH) has linked short-term exposure to breathing difficulties, blurred vision, and nervous system issues.
The economic impact on these families is also severe. Even a few days of illness can mean lost wages. This leads to medical debt and can disrupt children’s education as they miss school. For families with low incomes, this pesticide drift creates both health and financial hardship.
From a broader perspective, this invisible pollution represents an unacknowledged cost of India’s current agricultural practices. Rural households bear the health and income losses, while profits often go up the supply chain. Economists refer to this as a “negative externality” – a burden placed on those least able to cope. For agricultural workers, who often work informally, even mild sickness can mean a loss of income with no safety net.
India’s pesticide market adds to the risk. The ICAR-Central Institute for Cotton Research (CICR) estimates that cotton, while using only about 5% of India’s farmland, accounts for nearly half of all pesticide sales. Although Bt cotton was introduced to reduce pesticide use, the development of pest resistance has led to an increase in sprays. In Vidarbha, the amount of pesticide used per hectare rose from five litres in 2010 to over 10 litres in 2022, according to the Union Ministry of Agriculture.
Despite these risks, protective gear is rarely used, and spraying is often done manually or by tractor in open weather conditions. Regulations have not kept up with the problem. The Insecticides Act of 1968 calls for safe handling, but its enforcement is weak. Many dangerous chemicals that are banned in other countries are still sold in India. Furthermore, a proposed Pesticide Management Bill has been delayed for a long time.
The CPCB monitors pesticide levels in only a few districts, leaving most cotton-growing areas unmonitored. This lack of data makes it difficult for policymakers to understand the true extent of contamination. The people most affected – migrant sprayers, landless labourers, and women who pick cotton – are often the least able to advocate for change.
However, solutions are available. Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and initiatives promoting non-chemical cotton farming in states like Madhya Pradesh and Telangana have shown that pesticide use can be reduced by half without affecting crop yields. Under the National Food Security Mission, methods like using pheromone traps and bio-pesticides have helped lower the reliance on chemicals and reduce drift.
These examples demonstrate that farming can be more cost-effective, safer, and sustainable. This requires policies that support environmentally friendly practices instead of relying on quick chemical solutions. To address this crisis, India needs better monitoring systems, stronger local governance, and improved protection for those exposed to pesticides. Air and rainwater in rural areas must be tested regularly, and health centres should record illnesses linked to pesticide use. Agriculture departments can also play a role by promoting safer spraying methods and raising public awareness.
Most importantly, phasing out highly hazardous pesticides is crucial to protect both farmers and the communities living near cotton fields. The invisible pollution from pesticide drift is a real threat. When cotton sprays go up into the air, they leave behind more than just a smell; they highlight how agricultural progress has sometimes outpaced health and environmental safety. For rural development to be truly inclusive, India must address the contamination of the very air that supports its agriculture.