The Silent Crisis: Illegal Use of Banned Pesticides in Pakistan

By Saima Hashim, Founder and CEO of AIS Farm Tech

Pakistan’s agriculture is facing a silent but dangerous crisis. While we celebrate the strides our farmers make in producing food for millions, there is a growing issue that is putting both the environment and public health at serious risk: the illegal use of banned pesticides. Despite regulations in place, harmful chemicals continue to find their way into the fields, wreaking havoc on soil, crops, and, most importantly, the lives of farmers and consumers alike.

As someone who works closely with farming communities, I have seen firsthand the reasons why farmers, often out of desperation or lack of awareness, resort to these dangerous chemicals. The impact of this illegal use stretches far beyond individual farms—it is a ticking time bomb for our health, our food systems, and our future generations.

Why Are Banned Pesticides Still in Use?

Despite bans on certain toxic pesticides, these chemicals continue to be used across the country. But why, in 2024, are we still facing this issue? The answer lies in a combination of weak enforcement, lack of farmer education, and market dynamics that prioritize short-term gains over long-term sustainability.

1. Lack of Awareness and Education

Many farmers in rural Pakistan are simply unaware of the dangers posed by banned pesticides. Due to limited access to formal agricultural education, they often rely on the advice of local pesticide dealers or follow traditional practices handed down through generations. These farmers, who are fighting to protect their crops from pests, are often not informed about the safer alternatives available to them. The lack of accessible, science-backed training programs in these regions only adds to the problem.

2. Weak Regulatory Enforcement

While the Pesticide Ordinance of 1971 bans a number of dangerous pesticides, enforcement of these regulations is far from perfect. Smuggling of banned pesticides is rampant, particularly in border regions, where corrupt practices and poor regulation allow illegal products to enter the market. The fines and penalties for selling or using these pesticides are often not strong enough to deter the practice, meaning that the availability of these chemicals remains widespread.

3. Short-Term Gains, Long-Term Losses

Many of these banned pesticides are highly effective at killing pests quickly, which makes them attractive to farmers facing the very real threat of crop loss. In the short term, using these chemicals can seem like a cost-effective solution, but the long-term damage they cause to soil health, biodiversity, and human health is often overlooked. For farmers struggling to make ends meet, the promise of saving this season’s crop often outweighs the unseen dangers of long-term damage.

4. Desperation Driven by Crop Failures

Climate change, unpredictable weather patterns, and increasing pest resistance are putting unprecedented pressure on Pakistan’s farmers. In some cases, when facing severe crop infestations, farmers turn to banned pesticides as a last resort to save their crops. When viable, affordable, and accessible alternatives are lacking, they often feel they have no choice but to use these dangerous substances to protect their livelihoods.

The Far-Reaching Impact of Banned Pesticides

The use of banned pesticides may solve an immediate problem for farmers, but the long-term effects are devastating. From health issues in local communities to lasting damage to ecosystems, these chemicals have far-reaching consequences that cannot be ignored.

1. Health Risks to Farmers and Their Communities

Farmers who use these banned pesticides, often without proper protective equipment, face serious health risks. Exposure to these toxic chemicals can lead to immediate symptoms like skin rashes, dizziness, and respiratory problems, while long-term exposure has been linked to cancers, neurological disorders, and reproductive health issues. Tragically, it is not only the farmers who are affected—these chemicals contaminate local water supplies and enter the food chain, putting entire communities at risk.

The health impacts of pesticide poisoning are particularly severe for children, pregnant women, and the elderly, making this an urgent public health crisis in rural farming areas. Many farmers are not even aware of the connection between pesticide use and the chronic health conditions they experience.

2. Environmental Devastation

Banned pesticides not only kill the pests they target but also wipe out beneficial insects, birds, and other wildlife, leading to a loss of biodiversity. The overuse and misuse of these chemicals degrade soil health, leading to declining crop yields over time and contributing to desertification. Waterways are also contaminated, as pesticide runoff enters rivers and groundwater, affecting aquatic life and the broader ecosystem.

In regions where banned pesticides are used heavily, we are seeing the collapse of ecosystems that have sustained farming for generations. The long-term sustainability of Pakistan’s agriculture is under threat if we do not act swiftly to stop the illegal use of these toxic substances.

3. Economic Consequences for Farmers

While banned pesticides may offer a short-term fix, they create long-term problems for farmers’ economic sustainability. As soil health declines and pest resistance builds up, farmers are forced to use more chemicals, creating a vicious cycle of dependence on increasingly expensive inputs. At the same time, the global demand for organic and sustainably produced food is growing, and farmers who continue to use illegal pesticides risk losing access to these lucrative markets.

Farmers who invest in sustainable farming practices and legal pest control methods will be better positioned to take advantage of these market trends, while those who rely on banned pesticides may find themselves falling further behind.

What Needs to Be Done

Addressing the illegal use of banned pesticides requires coordinated action on several fronts. It is not enough to simply enforce regulations—we need to educate, empower, and provide alternatives for our farming communities.

1. Strengthen Regulation and Enforcement

Pakistan’s regulatory bodies need to take stronger action against the smuggling and illegal sale of banned pesticides. This means increasing fines for those caught selling or using illegal chemicals and improving monitoring and inspection processes. At the same time, we must invest in training local law enforcement and agricultural officers to identify and report illegal pesticide activity.

2. Educate Farmers

The key to reducing the use of banned pesticides lies in education. Farmers need accessible training on integrated pest management (IPM) and sustainable farming practices that reduce the need for chemical inputs. At AIS Farm Tech, we are working to spread awareness about alternatives like biopesticides, crop rotation, and natural pest predators, which offer effective, eco-friendly solutions to pest problems.

3. Promote Sustainable Alternatives

We must make safe, sustainable alternatives to banned pesticides more affordable and accessible to farmers. Governments, NGOs, and private sector companies should work together to ensure that farmers have access to eco-friendly pest control solutions and are supported through subsidies, training, and market incentives for adopting these practices.

4. Encourage Clean Farming Practices

At AIS Farm Tech, we believe that the future of farming in Pakistan lies in clean farming—methods that protect our environment while ensuring productivity. Through organic farming, precision agriculture, and clean energy solutions, we can help farmers achieve higher yields without resorting to harmful chemicals. It is time to move away from short-term fixes and toward long-term sustainability.

Conclusion: A Call to Action

The illegal use of banned pesticides is a serious threat to Pakistan’s agricultural future, but it is not an insurmountable challenge. With stronger regulation, better education, and a shift toward sustainable practices, we can protect our farmers, our environment, and the health of future generations. At AIS Farm Tech, we are committed to leading this change by working directly with farmers to promote safe and effective pest management solutions.

It’s time for all of us—government, businesses, and communities—to come together and end the use of banned pesticides once and for all. Only by doing so can we ensure a healthy, sustainable, and prosperous future for Pakistan’s agriculture.