Hunsur farmer dies, pesticide banned

MYSURU: A Hunsur farmer died on Sunday within 24 hours of spraying pesticide at his farm in Moodooru, leading the district administration to ban the sale of the chemical formulation.
Diwakar, 28, from Gavadagere hobli, was treated at a government medical facility, but his condition worsened early Sunday. He died on the way to Mysore’s Krishnarajendra Hospital.
The pesticide is used to clean up vegetable-growing gardens. Experts said the formulation proves fatal if farmers don’t cover their face or inhale it directly while shooting it out on crops. The chemical is said to have played havoc with 10 farmhands in the region in the past week, and all of them are out of danger.
Deputy commissioner C Shikha said Diwakar’s family rejected their request for a post-mortem. “However, we have collected samples from his farmland and sent them for an examination,” the commissioner said.
Sources said that a post-mortem would have thrown light on the cause of the death and whether the pesticide played any part in it.
Joint director of agriculture, M Mahanteshappa, that said Lannate 40% SP — the pesticide in question — has been banned with immediate effect and advised dealers not to sell it till the lab test findings come in.
Farmers invite trouble by not taking enough precautions, as might have been the case with Diwakar, the officer said.