New Delhi, 9th July 2026: Taking cognisance and strong objection to the misleading and unsubstantiated accusations regarding agrochemical products and its industry while also stigmatising Indian farmers and undermining the regulatory and legislative safeguards that are in place to ensure food security, the Agro Chem Federation of India (ACFI) opposed the release of an upcoming film “The India Story: Slow Poison in progress” in a strongly worded letter to Shri Shashi Shekhar Vempati, Chairperson, Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) and sought thorough examination of the claims while seeking addressal before the film’s public release on 24th July 2026.
Dr. Kalyan Goswami, Director General, ACFI said that “the trailer of the upcoming movie The India Story: Slow Poison in Progress, presents India’s agricultural and food systems in an alarmist, sensational manner and appears to draw direct causal links between modern agricultural practices and a range of public health and social issues, without providing any apparent scientific substantiation. It is appalling to see that the film’s narrative is not only scientifically unfounded but damages India’s agricultural reputation and threatens our farmers’ livelihoods and national food security.”
ACFI is the apex industry body representing nearly 85% of India’s agrochemical sector. The association has demanded that any misleading, exaggerated, unverified, or unsupported content is appropriately addressed before certification and public exhibition.
On the alarming statements prominently featured in the trailer, the association said, “These claims are presented as statements of fact, yet no source, methodology, geographical context, or scientific basis is disclosed,” adding, “Available evidence from authoritative national and international institutions presents a noticeably different picture.”
The association quoted authoritative national and international institutions to debunk these statements. It said India’s annual pesticide consumption, according to the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), is approximately 40,094 metric tonnes.
“These products are applied in agricultural fields in accordance with approved agronomic practices; this does not imply that the population is “consuming 50000+ metric tons of pesticides.” Further, government-supported studies conducted under the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) indicate that over 96.5% of tested agricultural commodities comply with prescribed pesticide residue limits and are considered safe for our consumption.”
The association also said that “The trailer’s apparent attempt to directly associate cancer incidence with agricultural produce is not supported by the WHO’s established assessment of major cancer risk factors.”
The association criticised the manner in which mortality figures are presented in the trailer thereby creating a misleading impression of the causes and context of those deaths due to pesticides.
“The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), in its Accidental Deaths and Suicides in India 2024 report, recorded 7,821 cases were attributed to accidental intake of insecticides or pesticides.”
ACFI expressed concern over the apparent and exaggerated relation the trailer tries to create between complex public health issue such as cancer & mortality with agrochemicals. It said that “the selective presentation of large numerical figures without context, source attribution, or scientific validation can misinform the public and create unwarranted fear about the safety of India’s food systems.”
Deeply hurt by the stigmatisation of Indian farmers, the association said the broad characterisation of Indian food as “slow poison” not only damages public confidence domestically but may also have significant international ramifications.
“Such assertions may be cited by foreign regulators, competing exporters, advocacy groups, or trade interests to question the safety of Indian agricultural produce and potentially impact India’s agricultural exports.”
The association also flagged the misleading message that the Government of India exercises no control, possesses no robust legislative or regulatory safeguards, and maintains an outright lack of concern for public food safety. Where in reality the country’s food safety framework is governed by multiple government regulatory institutions which facilitate India’s agricultural sector in feeding over 1.4 billion people and supports the livelihoods of hundreds of millions of farmers.
“By falsely implying that our regulatory institutions are either indifferent or entirely incapable of managing food safety, the film relies on inaccurate, unsubstantiated data to deliver a highly damaging message.”
The association has called for exercising freedom of expression with a sense of responsibility, particularly when dealing with subjects that affect public health, food security, farmer livelihoods, and national interests. This unwarranted portrayal risks inflicting severe, long-term damage on India’s sovereign reputation, the credibility of its premier regulatory bodies, and the economic vitality of the entire Indian food and agricultural sector.