SYNTHETIC AND ORGANIC PESTICIDES : THEIR IMPACT ON AGRICULTURE
Pesticides are substances that are meant to control pests, including weeds. There are several types of pesticides like herbicide, insecticides, nematicide, molluscicide, piscicide, avicide, rodenticide, bectericide, insect repellent, animal repellent, anti microbial and fungicide. The most common of these are herbicides which account for approximately 80% of all pesticide use. Pesticides can be defined as any substance or mixture of substances intended for preventing, destroying or controlling any pest including vectors of human or animal disease, unwanted species of plants or animals, causing harm during or otherwise interfering with the production, processing, storage, transport or marketing of food, agricultural commodities, wood and wood products. The term includes substances intended for use as a plant growth regulator, defoilant, desiccant or agent for thinning fruit or preventing the pre-mature fall of fruits.
IMPACTS OF USING SYNTHETIC PESTICIDES ON AGRICULTURE
Tremendous benefits have been derived from the use of synthetic pesticides in agriculture, a sector upon which the Indian economy is largely dependent. Improved productivity is one major benefit. The food grain production, for example has increased manifold due to use of proper agricultural chemicals. Protection of crop losses is another important benefit. Severe infestation of weeds particularly in the early stage of crop establishment, accounts for a yield-reduction of 40%. Application of herbicides prevents yield-reduction. Quality of food, like that of fresh fruits and vegetables is often made better by controlled use of herbicides.
However, there is a darker side of the picture, too. Ideally, a pesticide must be lethal to the targeted pests but not harm non-targeted species, including Man. Unfortunately this is not the case. So the controversy regarding use and abuse of synthetic pesticides is gaining momentum with each passing day. The rampant use of these harmful and often poisonous chemicals for more and more yield is playing havoc with the health of human and other life forms.
ORGANIC PESTICIDES : IT’S TIME TO SWITCH TO A LESS-HAZARADOUS APPROACH
Owing to the harmful effects of synthetic pesticides, farmers in many places are trying to use organic pesticides. Organic pesticides are pesticides made from naturally occurring substances or self-made mixtures made from organi soaps and/or ethanol. Some examples of organic pesticides are garlic, onion, crushed tomato leaves, Sabadilla, tobacco water, snuff, Rubarb leaves, neem oil, neem leaves, cowdung, etc. Farmers in Kerala have formulated organic pesticides to manage various pests including Borers, bugs and caterpillars. One popular decoction is made by using cow urine, dung and neem leaf paste while another is made by combining Custard apple, leaves of papaya, guava and pomegranate with neem leaves and cow urine. Along with organic , organic fertilisers can be used, too. Organic Fertilisers are derived from animal matter, animal excreta (manure), human excreta and vegetable matter. Naturally occurring organic fertilisers include animal wastes from meat processing, peat, manure, slurry and guano. One prime reason to switch to organic is how it allows farmers to turn agricultural outputs into natural and doesnot affect their health or damage the crops. Natural are healthier, lesd hazardous and more environment- friendly than synthetic products.
PESTISIDI za kikaboni na za kikaboni: athari zao kwa kilimo PESTISIDI ni vitu vinavyokusudiwa kudhibiti wadudu, pamoja na magugu. Kuna aina kadhaa za dawa za kuua wadudu kama vile dawa ya kuua magugu, dawa ya kuua wadudu, dawa ya kuua nematidi, dawa ya kuua moluska, dawa ya kuua samaki, dawa ya kuua ndege, dawa ya kuua panya, dawa ya kuua wadudu, dawa ya kuua wanyama, dawa ya kuua vimelea na dawa ya kuua kuua kuvu. Kwa ujumla, dawa za kuua magugu ni dawa za kuua magugu ambazo zinahesabu karibu 80% ya matumizi yote ya dawa za kuua wadudu. "Kinaweza kuelezwa kama ""kila kitu au mchanganyiko wa vitu vinavyokusudiwa kuzuia, kuharibu au kudhibiti wadudu, ikiwa ni pamoja na vektor za magonjwa ya binadamu au wanyama, spishi zisizohitajika za mimea au wanyama, zinazosababisha madhara wakati wa uzalishaji, usindikaji, uhifadhi, usafirishaji au uuzaji wa chakula, bidhaa za kilimo, mbao na bidhaa za mbao.""" "Hii inatia ndani vitu vinavyotumiwa kama ""kudhibiti ukuaji wa mimea, defoliant, desiccant au wakala wa kupunguza matunda au kuzuia kuanguka kwa matunda kabla ya kukomaa.""" Matokeo ya matumizi ya dawa za kuua wadudu katika kilimo: Matokeo ya matumizi ya dawa za kuua wadudu katika kilimo ni muhimu kwa uchumi wa India. Uboreshaji wa uzalishaji ni mojawapo ya faida kubwa. Uzalishaji wa nafaka ya chakula, kwa mfano, umeongezeka mara nyingi kwa sababu ya matumizi ya kemikali sahihi za kilimo. Ulinzi wa hasara za mazao ni faida nyingine muhimu. Uharibifu mkubwa wa magugu, hasa katika hatua ya mapema ya kuanzisha mazao, husababisha kupunguzwa kwa mavuno ya 40%. Matumizi ya dawa za kuua magugu huzuia kupunguzwa kwa mavuno. Ubora wa chakula, kama vile wa matunda na mboga safi, mara nyingi hupendekezwa kwa kutumia dawa za kuua magugu kwa njia iliyodhibitiwa. Hata hivyo, kuna upande mwekundu wa jambo hilo pia. Kwa kawaida, dawa ya kuua wadudu lazima iwe hatari kwa wadudu wanaolengwa lakini isiathiri spishi zisizo za kulengwa, kutia ndani Mwanadamu. Kwa kusikitisha, sivyo ilivyo. Kwa hiyo, ubishi kuhusu matumizi na matumizi mabaya ya dawa za kuua wadudu unaongezeka kila siku. Matumizi ya kemikali hizi zenye madhara na mara nyingi zenye sumu kwa ajili ya mazao zaidi na zaidi yanaathiri sana afya ya wanadamu na aina nyingine za uhai. Wanyama wa asili: Ni wakati wa kubadilisha mbinu ya hatari ya chini kwa sababu ya athari mbaya za dawa za kuua wadudu za synthetic, wakulima katika maeneo mengi wanajaribu kutumia dawa za kuua wadudu za asili. Dawa za kuua wadudu za kikaboni ni dawa za kuua wadudu zilizotengenezwa kutoka kwa vitu vya asili au mchanganyiko wa kujitegemea uliotengenezwa kutoka kwa sabuni za kikaboni na au ethanol. Baadhi ya dawa za kuua wadudu ni vitunguu, vitunguu, majani ya nyanya, maji ya tumbaku, tobacco, majani ya rubber, mafuta ya neem, majani ya neem, cow dung, na mengineyo. Wakulima huko Kerala wametengeneza dawa za kuua wadudu ili kudhibiti wadudu mbalimbali kutia ndani wadudu wanaoitwa Borers, wadudu na vimelea. Mchuzi mmoja maarufu hutengenezwa kwa kutumia mkojo wa ng'ombe, mbolea na mchanganyiko wa majani ya neem, wakati mwingine hutengenezwa kwa kuchanganya apple ya custard, majani ya papaya, guava na pomegranate na majani ya neem na mkojo wa ng'ombe. Pamoja na kikaboni, mbolea kikaboni inaweza kutumika, pia. Mbolea za kikaboni zinatokana na vitu vya wanyama, vitu vya wanyama (mchuzi), vitu vya binadamu na vitu vya mimea. Mbolea za kikaboni zinazotokea kiasili ni pamoja na taka za wanyama kutoka kwa usindikaji wa nyama, peat, mbolea, slurry na guano. Sababu kuu ya kubadilisha kwa kikaboni ni jinsi inavyowawezesha wakulima kugeuza matokeo ya kilimo kuwa ya asili na haathiri afya yao au kuharibu mazao. Asili ni afya zaidi, lesd hatari na zaidi ya mazingira ya kirafiki kuliko bidhaa synthetic.