The use of pesticides in agricultural produce has proliferated lately, as most fruits and vegetables in the market have been found to be chemically-laced. Though these products look fresh, they actually rot very fast. But that is the least of the problems caused by pesticides. First of all, pesticide lessens the life cycle of the food that it is sprayed on. It can prove fatal to small organisms like harmless insects and birds which feed on the produce, reducing biodiversity and disrupting the natural ecosystem of surrounding area. When it comes to human beings, strong chemicals in pesticides harm the health of those who consume it through food. These chemicals, passed on to babies through breast milk, have been known to cause neurological damages. [break]
In the next stage, these pesticides enter the environment through human bodily wastes. Studies show that more than 98 percent of pesticides reach areas that they are not intended for, including unguarded air, water, and food sources. Gradually, they end up contaminating the whole environment, contributing to global weather phenomena such as ozone layer depletion and acid rain. Moreover, excessive use of pesticide allows the targeted pests to develop immunity against it, meaning that stronger chemicals will have to be invented to tackle them in the future. There is no conceivable end to the vicious cycle of stronger and stronger pesticides inflicting more and more damage to human and animal lives and the environment. A famous example is DDT, an insecticide once hailed as the miracle cure of malaria. When the agricultural use of DDT boomed, the amount used was much more than required for controlling disease, resulting in the emergence of resistant strains of mosquitoes. Concerns about its effects on the environment led to its eventual ban.
The trouble is that many harmful pesticides are still widely used, and most produce, home grown or imported, contain their traces. There is no way we can keep ourselves from ingesting at least some of these harmful chemicals every single day. Eventually, the health of human beings, animals, and the entire environment will be in jeopardy. The most effective method of reducing the harmful effects of pesticides is to eschew them altogether and adopt organic farming, which employ natural methods to control pests. But since these processes are expensive and time consuming, and pesticides are readily available in the market, farmers have stuck with the harmful chemicals. Most of them are utterly unaware that pesticides are most harmful to their own health, especially when no protection is employed when spraying, letting the chemicals enter their bodies directly. The government should eventually ban all strong pesticides. In short term, their import, sales and use need to be strictly monitored and awareness of their risks spread among farmers. Progress in this area has actually started from least developed areas of the country. For instance, Jumla has recently been declared an organic district. After activism and awareness programs by several nongovernmental organizations, the farmers there have understood the importance of staying off pesticides, and have cooperated to make the district pesticide-free. With some effort, there is no reason the example cannot be replicated in other places in the country.
Related story
Killing me softly
