Impact of agrochemicals on human health and environment
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Date
2016
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Publisher
CCSHAU
Abstract
Agrochemicals have played a significant role in producing large quantity of food for today’s hungry
world and a significant portion of the applied agrochemicals are lost in the environment where they
adversely affect human health and environment. The present study entitled “Impact of agrochemicals
on human health and environment” was conducted in Haryana state by interviewing 120 farmers in
order to study the awareness, perception and impact of agrochemicals on human health and
environment. It was found that most of the farmers were of middle age group, educated up to matric.
Majority of the farmers had their main occupation as farming with land holding of 1 to 5 acres, high
proneness to change and medium level of scientific orientation was observed along with low extension
contact and mass media exposure. The study further revealed that most of the farmers applied
agrochemicals according to dealer’s prescription also before infestation on their crops and applied
pesticides very frequently i.e. once a week. It was also noticed that only about 3% of the farmers wore
mask, gloves, boots and full sleeves shirt and pants while spraying. The awareness level was found
very high about residual effect of pesticides in soil, water, air, food and dairy products was observed. It
was surprising that none of the farmers were aware of the antidotes to different agrochemicals. A
positive and significant correlation was exhibited with agrochemicals used and their storage. The study
also revealed that very high percentage of farmers suffered from skin and eye diseases as compared to
respiratory and digestive diseases. Beside acute diseases significant number of people also suffered
from various chronic disease viz. physical disabilities, fluctuations in blood pressure, learning
disability, attention deficit hyperactivity dysfunction, heart blockage, mental disability, miscarriages
and developmental delay. All the farmers showed their consent regarding alternate agricultural
practices like green manuring, poultry litter, organic manure, compost/ vermicompost, spent compost,
biogas slurry and ash to replace the currently used chemical fertilizers. It was also observed that use of
insect resistant plants, genetically modified plants, neem products, alcohol, pest repellent plants and
other indigenous techniques were observed to be most effective alternative to replace chemicals
pesticides based on farmers responses. Organic farming, protected cultivation, integrated pest
management, crop rotation, cowpathy, integrated farming system, companion farming and vertical
farming were also reported by respondents as alternate agricultural practices for shifting from chemical
farming to ecofriendly agriculture.
Description
Keywords
Agreements, Marketing, Rice, Productivity, Markets, Costs, Contract farming, Yields, Economics, Area