Preetam Singh, a farmer from Panipat of Haryana, like many others, had raised concerns about the harmful effects of pesticides.

While pesticides are crucial for protecting crops from pests and diseases, they also pose significant health risks to those who handle them. Concerned about these dangers, Preetam reached out to pesticide companies for a solution. His concerns were addressed with the launch of Kisan Kavach, a protective suit designed to safeguard farmers. Now, with Kisan Kavach, Preetam and others can apply pesticides with confidence, knowing their health is protected.

Kisan Kavach, Bharat’s first anti-pesticide bodysuit, is designed to protect farmers from the harmful effects of pesticide exposure. This groundbreaking innovation is a major step forward in ensuring farmer safety and empowers the agricultural community through science and technology. The event also marked the distribution of the first batch of Kisan Kavach suits to farmers, emphasizing the importance of safeguarding farmers.

Kisan Kavach is an innovative solution designed to address a critical safety concern for farmers. Developed by BRIC-inStem in Bangalore, in collaboration with Sepio Health, this bodysuit provides essential protection against pesticide-induced toxicity. The Kisan Kavach Protective Shield includes a full-body suit, mask, headshield, and gloves, offering comprehensive protection.

Priced at ₹4,000, the suit is washable, reusable, and can last up to two years with up to 150 washes. The suit features advanced fabric technology that deactivates harmful pesticides upon contact, ensuring maximum safety for farmers. The fabric works through a process where a nucleophile is covalently attached to cotton fibres, allowing it to neutralize pesticides via nucleophilic-mediated hydrolysis. This groundbreaking technology, detailed in the journal Nature Communications, makes Kisan Kavach a game-changer in safeguarding farmers. The government aims to reduce the cost over time to make it more accessible to a wider audience.

Remember, the severity of pesticide-related risks became evident in 1958, when a mass methyl parathion poisoning in Kerala led to the enforcement of the Insecticides Act, of 1968 and Insecticide Rules, of 1971. These laws aimed to regulate the import, manufacture, sale, and use of insecticides to protect human and animal health.

Key provisions included mandatory product registration, licenses for manufacturing and sale, and the creation of the Central Insecticides Board for technical guidance. The government was also empowered to ban harmful pesticides and impose penalties for violations.