PESTICIDES OPERATIONAL, CALIBRATION AND MAINTENANCE GUIDELINES

Pesticide: A chemical substance that is used in different forms to destrory /control/ reduce pest population in cultivated crops, wild plants, and animals. usually, it is used to control economic loss.

pesticide use safety

Pesticide Safety

BASIC PRECAUTIONS IN PESTICIDES USAGE

1. Purchase

1. Purchase only just required quantity of pesticide e.g. 100, 250, 500, 1000 g/ml for single application in specified area.
2. Do not purchase leaking containers, loose, unsealed or torn bags ; 
3. Do not purchase pesticides without proper / approved labels.
4. While purchasing insist for  giving invoice/bill/cash memo

B. Storage

1. Avoid storage of pesticides in house premises.
   
2. Keep only in original container with intact seal.
3. Do not transfer pesticides to other containers ; 
4. Do not expose pesticide  to sunlight or rain water ;
5. Do not store weedicides along with other pesticides.
6. Never keep pesticide  together with food or feed/fodder.
7. Keep pesticide  away from reach of children and livestock.

C. Handling

1.  Never carry/ transport pesticides along with food materials.
2. Avoid carrying bulk pesticides (dust/granules) on head shoulders or on the back.

D. Precautions for preparing spray solution

1. Use clean water.
2. Always protect your nose, eyes, mouth, ears and hands.
3. Use hand gloves, face mask to cover your head with cap.
4. Use polythene bags as hand gloves, handkerchiefs or piece of clean cloth as mask and a cap or towel to cover the head (Do not use polythene bag contaminated with pesticides).
5. Read the label on the container before preparing spray solution.
6. Prepare the spray solution as per requirement.

D. Precautions for preparing spray solution

1. Do not mix granules with water ; Do not eat, drink, smoke or chew while preparing solution
2. Concentrated pesticides must not fall on hands etc. while opening sealed container. Do not smell pesticides.
3. Avoid spilling of pesticides while filling the sprayer tank.
4. The operator should protect his bare feet and hands with polythene bags

E. Equipment

1. Select and buy the right kind of equipment.
2. Do not use leaky and defective equipment
3. Select right kind of nozzles
4. Do not blow/clean clogged nozzle with mouth. Use old tooth brush tied with the sprayer and clean with water.
5. Do not use same sprayer for weedicide and insecticide.

F. Precautions for applying pesticides

1. Apply pesticide  only at recommended dose and dilution of pesticide 
2. Do not apply pesticide  on hot sunny day or strong windy condition ; Do not just before the rains and after the rains ; Do not against the windy direction
3. Wash the sprayer and buckets etc. with soap water after spraying pesticide .
4. Containers, buckets etc. used for mixing pesticides should not be used for domestic purpose
5. Avoid entry of animals and workers in the field immediately after sprayer

6. 

   pesticide handling

   Avoid tank mixing of different pesticides
7. Adopt Phytosanitery measures 

G. Disposal

1. pesticide leftover  should not be drained in ponds or water lines etc. throw it in barren isolated area if possible
2. The used/empty containers should be crushed with a stone/stick and buried deep into soil away from water source.
3. Never reuse empty pesticides container for any other purpose. 
   
4. The best practice  to control pests is using Integrated pest control mechanism

PESTICIDES OPERATIONAL, CALIBRATION AND MAINTENANCE GUIDELINES