Pesticide-mediated toxicity in modern agricultural practices

Abstract

Pesticides are, at the moment, man's main weapon against insect pests. Pesticides have been used heavily in almost all parts of the world. The average consumption of pesticides in India was only 3.2 g/ha in 1954-55. In 1075-76, this had increased to 4.4 kg/ha, and it keeps on increasing day by day. Proper use of pesticides increases farmers' incomes. Yields of most crops increase by 10-20% when pesticides are used. Most experts agree that removal of pesticides from crop protection would result in an immediate drop in food production. Discontinuation of all pesticide use would reduce the production of crops and livestock by 30% and would increase the prices of farm products by 50-70%. Phenomenal progress has been made in the development of insecticides. But their detrimental effects are numerous, including several acute and chronic illnesses in humans and worsening quality of the environment. Two types of contamination of the ecosystem are recognized: point- and nonpoint-sourcepollution. Pesticides are transported into the aquatic environment and the agricultural field as a nonpoint source most of the time and thereby reach all organisms and interfere in the food chain. So we need to supplement natural modern agricultural practices.