SRINAGAR, September 25, 2026 – Responding to growing public health concerns, the Jammu and Kashmir Government announced that it is considering a comprehensive, science-based study to investigate the possible link between pesticide exposure and the rising incidence of cancer across the Union Territory. The critical issue was brought to the forefront during a session of the Legislative Assembly on Thursday, when Pulwama MLA Waheed-ur-Rehman Parra moved a Calling Attention Motion regarding the alarming surge in cancer cases and the alleged widespread use of spurious and substandard agricultural pesticides. Addressing the House, the Minister for Agriculture Production, Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, Javid Ahmad Dar, confirmed that the government takes the matter very seriously and will involve top experts, including professors and research scientists, to meticulously examine the issue and frame appropriate policy measures. He proposed a collaborative study involving the Agriculture Production Department, Health and Medical Education Departments, SKUAST-Jammu, SKUAST-Kashmir, SKIMS, and SMHS to comprehensively assess pesticide exposure levels, residue patterns, and related health data to strengthen risk assessment frameworks.
The Assembly discussion highlighted the profound anxiety among Kashmir’s orchard-dependent communities, where pesticides are routinely applied to protect the region’s lucrative apple crops. Emphasizing the gravity of the situation, MLA Parra informed the House that approximately 70,000 cancer cases have been reported in the Union Territory over the past five years. Speaking to reporters outside the Assembly, Parra urged the government to move beyond merely treating patients and to actively identify the root environmental causes, demanding that the rising cancer incidence be officially declared a “health emergency” in J&K. Acknowledging the severity of the matter, Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather intervened during the session, directing the Health Minister and other relevant departments to urgently initiate coordinated measures, noting that while spurious pesticides might not be the sole cause, the broader health crisis requires immediate governmental action.
Addressing concerns regarding pesticide regulation, Minister Dar detailed the government’s existing enforcement mechanisms designed to curb the circulation of substandard chemicals under the Insecticides Act of 1968. He informed the Assembly that during the 2025-26 period, authorities tested 5,772 pesticide samples, out of which 85 were found to be substandard. Consequently, stringent actions were taken, including the cancellation or suspension of 19 licenses, the initiation of 19 prosecutions, the registration of three FIRs, and the recovery of fines. Additionally, the Minister noted that 32 highly toxic pesticide formulations have already been banned or heavily restricted in J&K in strict accordance with advisories issued by the Government of India. Despite these regulatory measures, the widespread demand for a definitive scientific investigation underscores the urgent need for a transparent, data-driven approach to safeguard both the region’s vital horticultural economy and the fundamental health of its citizens.
Published by True Roots Media Network