Overdependence on pesticides, hazardous to man & environment – Challenges to overcome

Abstract

Plant diseases are known since time immemorial. Epiphytotics of certain diseases have caused calamities in the past and have changed the history of mankind. Plant pests and disorders are believed to cause 40 percent reduction in yield worldwide (Oerke et al., 1994). As per Assocham Study Reports, India is losing annually INR 50,000 crores due to pests and diseases (the Times of India TNN, Feb 14, 2014, 03:43 AM). This, however, does not include post-harvest losses to the tune of INR 2.50 crores (ASSOCHAM, Aug 13, 2013) and loss of 21 million tones of wheat (equivalent to the entire production of Australia) every year due to lack of storage infrastructures. Main challenge for the agriculture is to increase productivity from limited or continuously reducing arable land to meet the food requirement of ever-growing population. Throughout the world pesticides have been widely used for controlling plant diseases and other insect-pests (Srivastava, 1999; Pimentel et al,1997; Home and Page, 2000) and in future too fungicides will play a crucial role in meeting this challenge. Though pesticides have been successfully used for plant protection and public health, yet a section of society looks on pesticides with blinkered vision on the pretext that pesticides affect biodiversity, environment, and accumulation of residues in milk, grain, food and soil affecting human health. Pesticides virtually play the same role in plant welfare as medicine in human health. Pesticides undoubtedly control the pests, and, if used judiciously hazards can be avoided. Due to lack of knowledge or over-cleverness and irrational use, the presence of residues are imminent in food grains and other food stuff and massive pollution , which occurred in the past such as  MIC in Bhopal, endosulphan tragedy in Kasorgarh (Kerala) and mercurial poisoning through treated wheat seed in Iraq which was purely due to human error. Publication of Silent Spring by Rachel Carson in 1962 sparked world-wide controversy and environmentalist lobby carried her legacy to come in lime-light. But that could not hamper the discovery of fungicides. Today we have broad range of fungicides which offer excellent control of different diseases. Discovery of systemic and next generation fungicides have revolutionized plant protection with least impact on biodiversity. In the present paper importance of pesticides has been highlighted and perception of various group opposing and supporting use of pesticides has been discussed to come out with realities and to present the real picture as to how best pesticides can be used in controlling plant pests.