Archive · 11 Aug 2026

Tea Growers Seek Complete Ban on Monocrotophos Pesticide in Jalpaiguri

Tea Growers Seek Complete Ban on Monocrotophos Pesticide in Jalpaiguri

Tea is a popular drink made from the leaves of tea plants that farmers grow in big fields.

In a place called Jalpaiguri, the people who grow tea asked the government to ban a poison called Monocrotophos.

This chemical is an insecticide, which means it is used to kill bugs that can hurt tea plants.

Monocrotophos is so dangerous that it is already banned, because it can hurt people, birds and helpful insects.

Even though it is banned, some people were still selling and using it on tea farms.

Tests found tiny bits of the poison in tea leaves, which worried the growers.

Tea with this poison in it could be unsafe to drink and harder to sell in other countries.

The growers asked the government to create a special team to stop anyone from selling or using the chemical.

They also want classes and posters to teach farmers not to use the poison.

The government said it is taking steps to stop the chemical from being sold and used.

Sources