Ban use of oxytocin in vegetables

In the wake of the startling revelation that the farmers are blatantly using oxytocin shots, which may cause irreparable damage to the human health, to expedite the growth of vegetables, the illegal and improper use of this hormone should be immediately banned and implemented in letter and spirit as it involves the health of the entire population in the country.

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In a startling revelation, the government itself has admitted the blatant and widespread use of oxytocin shots, a readily available and commonly used hormone, by the farmers to expedite the growth of their vegetables. The long term use of oxytocin, by the own admission of the government, may cause nervous breakdowns, sterility and neurotic complications among the people.

The hormone is used clinically to help begin or to sustain labour, to control bleeding after delivery, and stimulate the secretion of breast milk.

Indian minister of state for Health and Family Welfare Dinesh Trivedi has written a letter to the Union Health Secretary K Sujatha Rao, seeking action against sale of oxytocin in the country.

Oxytocin is a Schedule H drug banned in India for use on animals. In local parlance, it has got many names, like ‘cocin' and ‘paani' to ‘dawai,' and is available at almost all the general stores in the countryside. Oxytocin is a mammalian hormone that also acts as a neurotransmitter in the brain.

But these injections are being illegally administered by the farmers to pumpkin, watermelon, brinjal, gourd and cucumber plants. Such vegetables and fruits are then sold in the open market. The drug is so cheap and readily available and the implementation of the ban is so lax in the country.

The minister has rightly taken up the issue. Now, the administration should take the follow up action in all its seriousness and honesty.