Agricultural Pesticides

Prepared by: Bhupinderpal Singh

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Pesticides
Pesticides are created by humans to manage
what humans define as pests. Pests are
anything that stands in the way of human
food, health, or comfort.

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Origin/ History
 The first recorded use of insecticides was in 2500 B.C. by
Sumarians, who used sulphur compounds to control
insects and mites.
 In 1200 B.C. in China mercury and arsenical compounds

were used to control pests.

 In Ancient Rome pest were controlled by Burning sulfur

to kill insects and using salt to control weeds.

 During 1600 B.C in India ants were controlled with honey

and arsenic.

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Origin/ History
An emergence in pesticide use began after World War II with the

introduction of –

DDT

 BHC

Aldrin,

Dieldrin

Endrin 2

Endrin 4-D 4
DDT
 DDT once was known as a "miracle pesticide" for its efficiency
at killing crop-destroying insects.

 But was found to harm to the health of people who were

exposed to it.

 DDT caused liver cancer and other damage.

 It damaged the reproductive system and causes temporary

symptoms such as headache, nausea and dizziness,

 DDT has been banned since 1973, but decades later its chemical
descendants linger in the water and soil

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Video
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=LQ64sV0nSVU

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Origin/ History
 With the publication of Rachel Carson’s book Silent Spring 6 in
1962, public confidence in pesticide use was shaken.

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Origin/History
 She pointed to evidence linking them to death of nontarget
creatures.

“Nontarget creature are those organisms other than those that

the pesticide is intended to kill, such as birds”.

 The book suggested that DDT and other pesticides may cause
cancer

 and their agricultural use was a threat to wildlife, particularly

birds.

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Origin/History
• It was in 1973, the use of DDT was banned under
Stockholm convention.

• This resulted in redirection of research toward more pest-

specific
pesticides and cropping methods.

• Now pesticides were designed after “natural” pesticides.

which are natural, plant-derived poisons.

• Integrated pest management was introduced (IPM) with

the aims to keep pests at economically insignificant levels.
Origin/History
• In 1970, President Nixon formed the EPA
(Environmental Protection Agency). The Food Quality
Protection Act (FQPA) was passed in order to aprove and
regulates pesticides.

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Nature
Positive
• Brings numerous benefits and makes a significant
contribution to the lifestyles.
• Contributed significantly to improving quality of life

and safeguarding the environment.

• Increases the productivity of land.

Negative
• Pesticides kill not only the pests but also the natural

enemies of these pests.

• Pests can and do eventually become resistant to the
chemicals.
• There is huge health risks behind the use of pesticides

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Growth
 In the era of growing population and rapid urbanization the
demand and need for pesticides is increasing.

 In order to compete in the international level and to feed

growing population farmers have to use pesticides to yield on
fewer land acres

 Many scientist and Legal authorities are researching towards

the pesticides which are environmental friendly, less
hazardous to health, and economically sound.

 In United States, farms uses around 88 percent of all

pesticides in U.S.

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Challenges to the Agricultural pesticides

• How to persuade public to purchase and accept that pesticides are

Important .
• The entire pesticide industry struggling and making
strong efforts to regain the positive image in the
minds of people.
• The criticism against the agricultural pesticides is so much
increased, it’s very challenging for the industry to launch new
pesticides.
• The pesticides industry is occasionally pointed out
because of it’s insufficient control over toxicities level in
pesticide and it’s management over pesticides.

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Questions Please

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