Agriculture & Farming (Q&A)

Answer:

Pesticides are considered harmful for the environment because:

• Pesticides are chemicals which are used to kill insects, weeds etc. which are harmful for the crops. But these chemicals are also harmful to humans and other organisms as these chemicals are poisonous. Fruits, vegetables etc. absorb these chemicals and they may contain pesticide residues even after being washed or peeled.

• During rain, these chemicals get washed off and enter water sources thereby polluting the whole ecosystem. It can cause great loss to both humanity and other living creatures as well.

• Pesticide application, itself causes exposure to pesticide applicators or other workers in the field. It can result in various ailments.

• Not all pests are killed by the chemicals. Those that are not killed have become resistant to the chemicals with some slight variations in their genetic make-up. In order to combat this, cocktail of chemicals is developed which makes it deadly, not only for pests but for others as it enters the food chain.

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