Overuse of pesticides by farmers

The overuse of pesticides by farmers to prevent attacks on their crops may perhaps help them make a quick buck in the short run, but in the long run, poses many dangers to human health and the environment in general. Some farmers have, unfortunately, been ignoring these health hazards and the possible damages to the environment and using excessive pesticides in the hopes of making higher profits. At the same time, they are also trying to meet the increasing demand for agricultural products, however, at the expense of their quality. 

It is paradoxical that, the Department of Agricultural Extension said that it cannot take any legal action against these farmers, as they have no magistracy authority for conducting drives against toxic vegetable producers. And that all they can do is create awareness.

According to experts, overuse of pesticides, besides the more obvious damages, also make insects grow resistant to the chemicals used in pesticides which will eventually be detrimental to the interest of the farmers themselves. The same is also the case in terms of their health, as overexposure during extensive use of these chemicals may prove deadly for farmers, as well as for those consuming the final product. 

However, there is the underlying issue of demand and risk and, it is the government that must be the principle agency to balance the need for meeting the increasing demand versus the risk entailed.