Excessive use of pesticides and chemical fertilisers in farmlands is causing severe health hazards and must be curtailed, said speakers at a seminar yesterday.

While organic farming can mitigate such risks, a balanced approach incorporating proper use of chemicals is essential for ensuring food security, they emphasised.

The seminar, titled Environment, Agriculture, and Food Security, was organised by the Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association (BELA) at The Daily Star Centre.

Delowar Jahan, a farmer and coordinator of Organic Farming, said 70 percent of deaths in Bangladesh result from non-communicable diseases, with four out of five elderly people affected annually. He said organic farming can ensure agricultural sustainability and reduce health risks.

Rehmuna Nurain, BELA's coordinator for research, advocacy, and campaigns, cited a 2022 WHO report revealing 1.5 million cancer patients in Bangladesh.

She reiterated that 70 percent of NCD-related deaths are linked to food adulteration, referencing icddr,b data. Rehmuna called for sustainable agriculture policies, highlighting unclear farmland protection laws and the lack of restrictions on topsoil use.

Farmers from Savar and Manikganj shared their experiences with organic farming. However, they said it produces only one-third of conventional yields despite its benefits.

They urged the government to offer financial support, citing high costs and low demand for organic products.

Md Abu Zubair Hossain Bablu, additional secretary of the agriculture ministry, acknowledged the harmful effects of excessive pesticide use and called for strategic control. He urged farmers to adopt high-yielding seeds and use fertilisers and pesticides judiciously.

Taslima Islam, acting chief executive of BELA, advocated for a specific law on farming protection, while Md Ziaul Haque, director of the Department of Environment, stressed collaborative efforts to safeguard farmland and water bodies.

Dr Mohammad Ariful Islam, chairman of Agricultural Chemistry at Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, said both organic and conventional farming can ensure food safety if managed responsibly.

The event also featured contributions from Dr Munnujan Khanam of the Bangladesh Rice Research Institute and Prof Dr Nazneed Sultana of Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University.