A new report by Pesticide Action Network Asia Pacific (PANAP) has documented widespread pesticide use and exposure among farmers in Bangladesh, India, Laos and Vietnam, with India showing the highest proportion of highly hazardous pesticides (HHPs). The findings are part of ‘From the Ground Up: Documenting Pesticide Use in Bangladesh, India, Laos & Vietnam (2025)’, based on responses from 4,392 farmers across the four countries.
According to the report, 3,825 respondents, 87. 09% of those surveyed, said they use pesticides.
The study identified 96 different pesticides in total, and 58% of these were classified as highly hazardous. India accounted for the highest proportion, with 29 of the 41 pesticides used in the country falling into this category, representing 70. 73%.
The survey covered 1,993 respondents in India, including 1,485 from Yavatmal district in Maharashtra, which has previously drawn attention for pesticide-related deaths. The report said, “Since 2017, Yavatmal has gained national and local media attention due to a series of pesticide-related deaths and hospitalisations resulting from occupational exposure in cotton fields. ” Official reports from that year recorded over 450 cases of pesticide poisoning and 23 fatalities.
Farmers in Yavatmal predominantly cultivate cotton and soybeans, often using legal and illegal pesticides as part of their crop calendar. The report notes that diafenthiuron, a pesticide linked to earlier poisoning cases, continues to be used. It cites interviews with affected families and said, “Exposure to diafenthiuron caused severe health impacts, with many farmers experiencing temporary blindness and unconsciousness lasting several days.
” Across all countries surveyed, 3,369 respondents said they apply or spray pesticides themselves, and 2,619 reported exposures through ground spraying. Nearly 1,712 respondents live less than one kilometre from sprayed fields, increasing the risk of secondary exposure.
Glyphosate emerged as the most commonly reported pesticide, cited 828 times across farmer responses, despite being banned in Vietnam in 2019. In India, thiamethoxam and carbofuran were among the most frequently reported chemicals, with carbofuran classified as “highly hazardous” under WHO Class Ib (highly hazardous).
Other chemicals identified include WHO Class Ia (extremely hazardous) and Ib pesticides such as bromadiolone, diphacinone, methyl parathion, abamectin, and monocrotophos. Unsafe practices were widely reported.
A total of 1,111 respondents re-entered fields one day after spraying, while 964 returned the same day. During windy conditions, 2,036 farmers sprayed along wind direction and 1,262 sprayed without guidance, raising concerns about pesticide drifts.
Personal protective equipment (PPE) use was inconsistent. The report stated, “Approximately 40% of farmers reported not using PPE, with the highest proportion observed in India. ” Among those who used PPE, face masks and long-sleeved shirts were most common, but the report noted, “Surgical masks, which are commonly used, do not comply with international guidelines for pesticide spraying.
” Gendered exposure was also highlighted. Of the 4,392 respondents, 1,183 were women and 3,141 men. While men were more likely to spray pesticides, women were often involved in washing clothes and equipment after spraying, which increases indirect exposure.
The report records that 2,424 (55%) respondents had not received any training on pesticide handling, storage, or disposal. Storage inside homes was reported by 1,338 respondents and burning of containers by 1,478 respondents.
Washing after exposure often occurred in watercourses or irrigation drains, posing contamination risks. Common symptoms after exposure included headaches, reported by 868 respondents, and dizziness, reported by 837.
In suspected poisoning cases, 1,815 respondents sought help from family members, while 428 contacted local doctors. The report also notes that some farmers reuse pesticide containers for household purposes, including food storage, which can lead to poisoning.
The report included testimonies from farmers who have shifted to safer practices. A woman farmer from Vietnam said, “Before 2019, many families in our commune used paraquat and glyphosate to kill weeds on coffee plantations. However, from 2021 onwards, we have not used the above active ingredients.
When trained and discussed by the project, we used weed cutters and traditional tools such as weed knives and hoes to cut and weed instead of using chemicals. ” PANAP Executive Director Sarojeni Rengam said, “Each stage has contributed to growing global recognition of the urgent need to phase out highly hazardous pesticides.
” The report urged the governments to phase out highly hazardous pesticides, bring stricter enforcement against illegal products, and promotion of agroecological alternatives. It also calls for clear label information in local languages, farmer training on safe handling and disposal, and access to PPE that meets FAO/WHO standards.