Herbicide paraquat dichloride, used for quicker ripening of green gram, banned in India; MP issues orders

India’s Central government banned paraquat dichloride for summer green gram, and Madhya Pradesh issued orders enforcing the decision. The ban matters because the herbicide was being used to accelerate harvesting, despite concerns about possible health hazards and improper agricultural use.

Companies and dealers in Madhya Pradesh must destroy every remaining stock scientifically. The agriculture department warned that action will follow if anyone stores or sells the herbicide. Farmers also cannot use it anymore. Officials said farmers would be informed about the ban.

The order applies across the state, where summer moong is cultivated in more than 12 districts. The decision follows warnings that paraquat can be dangerous to the human liver and kidneys. It also follows earlier concerns over chemical use in summer moong procurement. Enforcement will focus on stocks, sales, and farmer awareness.

Paraquat dichloride is a chemical herbicide. A herbicide is normally used to control or destroy weeds and other unwanted plants that compete with crops. Its intended use is different from using a chemical to make an edible crop ripen faster.

The article reports that paraquat was used in Madhya Pradesh’s summer moong fields to expedite harvesting. A Krishi Vigyan Kendra scientist said its use was for non-agricultural land, but some people applied it to seek bumper production. The article does not describe paraquat’s chemical action in detail.

This distinction matters because a product’s approved purpose sets limits for safe handling and use. Applying it to a food crop can raise concerns about residues and human exposure. The Central government has now banned its use for summer green gram, and officials are directing dealers to destroy stocks.

Farmers applied paraquat to summer green gram because they wanted quicker harvesting. Faster ripening can help them move the crop off fields sooner and potentially support faster production cycles. The article links this practice to attempts to achieve bumper moong production.

The agriculture department director said the chemical ensured ripening within 72 to 90 hours. The article does not explain the exact biological mechanism. In general, paraquat is a fast-acting contact herbicide that damages green plant tissue, so its use can produce rapid drying or desiccation rather than safe, natural ripening.

That difference is central to the controversy. A chemical effect that makes plants appear ready quickly does not establish that the food is safe or that the use is approved. Officials banned the practice, citing health concerns and instructing companies and dealers to destroy their stocks.

Summer green gram, also called moong, is cultivated across more than 12 districts of Madhya Pradesh. That makes the crop important beyond individual farms, especially because it is grown after other seasonal crops and adds another harvest opportunity.

The article calls summer moong a third crop. In ordinary agricultural usage, this means farmers fit it into land that has already produced two crops during the broader farming year or cycle. The reported use of paraquat helped compress the final stage, with ripening said to occur in 72 to 90 hours.

This scale helps explain why the ban matters. It affects farmers across many districts, not only isolated users. The state must now combine enforcement with awareness, while farmers and officials face questions about harvesting schedules, crop management, and procurement. The article does not provide total acreage or production figures.

Paraquat exposure can create health concerns for people who handle the chemical and for consumers if unsafe use leaves harmful residues. The article cites many studies suggesting that paraquat is highly dangerous to the human liver and kidneys. It also notes that more than 70 countries have banned it, citing health hazards among consumers.

The article does not describe specific symptoms, exposure levels, or confirmed illnesses among Madhya Pradesh farmers or consumers. It does report that some people used the herbicide on summer moong, even though a scientist said its use was for non-agricultural land. That off-purpose application is the central safety concern.

The ban is therefore intended to stop further use on summer green gram. Officials ordered companies and dealers to destroy stocks scientifically and promised action against illegal stock or sales. The scientist also urged checks on insecticide use on vegetables and fruits, widening the food-safety concern.

The ban could make harvesting slower or less predictable for farmers who relied on paraquat to accelerate summer moong ripening. That may affect labor planning, crop timing, and the ability to bring produce to market quickly. The article does not quantify any financial loss or replacement method.

Procurement adds another pressure. In July 2025, Madhya Pradesh decided to scrap summer moong procurement at the Minimum Support Price because of concerns about weedicides and herbicides. The government said it could not promote chemically grown crops through MSP procurement. Farmers protested, and the government later changed course and bought the summer moong.

Farmers now face both a use ban and continuing scrutiny of chemical practices. Officials must enforce the ban while explaining compliant production and procurement rules. The article says farmers will be made aware of the ban, but it does not state whether new support or harvesting alternatives will be offered.

Herbicides are pesticides designed to control unwanted plants, especially weeds. Insecticides target insects. Other pesticides may target different pests or diseases. These categories describe the problem a product is designed to control, not a general permission to use it on any crop or at any stage.

Paraquat illustrates the danger of crossing that boundary. The article says a scientist described its use as intended for non-agricultural land, yet some people applied it to summer moong to speed ripening. The reported result was harvesting readiness within 72 to 90 hours, but the article also cites studies warning of liver and kidney danger.

Using a chemical outside its approved purpose can create uncertain residues, exposure, and effectiveness. It can also undermine food safety and procurement decisions. That is why the government banned paraquat for summer green gram, ordered stocks destroyed, and warned companies, dealers, and farmers against continued use.