To ensure health and safety of farmers especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, Syngenta India has initiated a series of online awareness programs for doctors under its flagship I-SAFE (Inculcating Safety, Awareness for Farmers Empowerment) initiative, in collaboration with the district authorities. In the first awareness program, doctors of Akola were given training and awareness on Principles of Recognition and Treatment of operator exposure incidents, the general principles for the recovery, stabilization and essential treatment.
The training session was conducted by renowned toxicologist Dr VV Pillay, Chief, Head, Toxicology, Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences, Cochin, Kerala. "I request the doctors to utilize the Adverse Health Incidence (AHI) Database, which has a vast global database and can be used as an online tool to address and resolve exposure cases".
As per reports, Shri Jitendra Papalkar IAS, District Collector, Akola was the chief guest at the Programme. Praising Syngenta’s efforts in the region, Shri Papalkar highlighted the need to introduce more such programs across the district. Other guests present at the event were Mr Mohan Wagh, SADO, Akola; Dr Mukund Astaputre, Toxicologist and Dr Shyamkumar Sirsum, Superintendent, Government Medical College, Akola along with other doctors from government hospitals, Indian Medical Association and medical students. More than 60 doctors and medical students attended the training and awareness session.
Dr KC Ravi, Chief Sustainability Officer, Syngenta India Limited said, "I-SAFE (Inculcating Safety Awareness for Farmer Empowerment) is a first-of-its-kind CSR initiative which has helped instil awareness about health and safety in farmers. With the support of district authorities, we were able to achieve zero fatality in Yavatmal in 2019. I thank the district officials and doctors for participating in this awareness program to mitigate and identify emerging exposure issues. "
Under the I-SAFE initiative, Syngenta also launched two public awareness vans each for Akola and Amravati districts. The van was flagged off by District Collector Akola along with senior officials of the districts. Each van will run for one month covering more than 300 villages in both the districts creating awareness on health and safety of the farmers and educating them on the safe use of crop protection products during this season.
Syngenta India is committed to strengthening safe and responsible use by effective stewardship of its crop protection products. Medical stewardship is a significant component of Syngenta's stewardship programmes.
"Under I-SAFE, we have trained more than 917 medical practitioners of primary healthcare centres and rural healthcare centres through our medical experts. In Maharashtra, over the last two years, we have conducted Doctors' Training & Awareness Programmes in the critical districts of Yavatmal, Osmanabad and Amravati", added Dr Ravi.
Syngenta India's field force regularly holds stewardship training & awareness sessions for farmers during all its farmer meetings and field days. In the sessions, farmers are informed and educated about The Five Golden Rules for Safe Use of Crop Protection Products. To read and understand the product label before using; exercise caution at all times when handling a product; maintain application equipment in good working condition; practice good personal hygiene before, during and after using products and use appropriate Personal Protective Equipment every time before spraying.
During the Q&A session, Dr Pillay clarified doubts and concerns of farmers related to the exposure.
