The Chief Quality Control Officer (CQCO), Agri. Dept. Govt. of Maharashtra invited a meeting to discuss awareness programs on safety measures for possible pesticides poisoning in the state of Maharashtra. It was a state level committee meeting of experts with CQCO wherein all concerned Associations were also invited to share their views on the strategy to implement this plan district wise effectively.

The virtual Doctors’ Training Program was the result of the said meeting wherein CropLife India in association with Agriculture Department, Govt. of Maharashtra organized a Virtual Conference on Continuing Medical Education (CME) Webinar for Doctors on Principles of Recognition, Management and Treatment of Accidental Agrochemical Exposure on 19th July 2021 via Video Conference.

The Virtual Conference was attended by around 1000 participants from government and private hospitals across three districts of Maharashtra – Yavatmal, Osmanabad and Jalgoan. The workshop was part of CropLife India’s Stewardship program, which intends to guide the doctors to deal with accidental exposure incidents occurred during improper or unsafe application of agro-chemicals. 

Excellent Training Session was conducted by Dr. Debabrata Kanungo, MD, FCGP – a globally recognized expert on Medical Toxicology, Human Health Risk Assessment and Food safety – to conduct this interactive session with the medical practitioners. Dr Kanungo has been Former Chairman, Scientific Panel on Pesticide Residues (FSSAI), Former Additional Director General, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Govt. of India, and a WHO recognised expert on the subject.

The training was followed by Q&A Session wherein all the queries of the participants were answered by the expert.

As the Chief Guest, Shri. Sunil Borkar, Chief Quality Control Officer, Agri. Dept., Govt. of Maharashtra addressed the participants and shared his inputs.

Present in the Virtual Conference were Shri. Amol Yedge (IAS), District Collector, Yavatmal; Shri. Kaustaubh Diwegaonkar (IAS), District Magistrate & Collector, Osmanabad; Shri. Abhijit Raut (IAS), District Collector, Jalgoan; other senior Government officials and delegates from our member companies and industry. 

CropLife India has developed a digital edition for Health Practitioners’ Handbook which is hosted on our website.