The problem of pesticides overuse and the need for change

The Mahatma once said that the farmers are the backbone of our country; however, nowadays, farmers are left in their fate, with many challenges to confront. It is not easy to cultivate a crop and harvest it successfully. The farmer needs to invest a lot of his/her energy and resources to grow his/her crop, but the economic returns or yield are not ensured. In this article, we will discuss how the various costs involved in crop production -inputs and how pests & diseases become a major concern in increasing costs and risk of losses. 

Various Agri- inputs needed for cultivation

For the cultivation of a crop, the following inputs are needed to be applied:

• The propagation material/seeds
• Machinery (for plowing, irrigation, harvesting, spraying plant protection/fertilization products)
• Pesticides (e.g. herbicides, insecticides and fungicides)
• Growth-promoting chemicals and fertilizers (either granular or liquid formulations)
• Labour power, 
• and many more

Among these, fertilizers and plant protection products play a major role because the risk of yield loss is usually substantial and highly possible. 

It is well known that numerous pests, parasites, and pathogens can put our crops’ health and productivity at risk. 

The challenge of efficient plant protection increases due to the different life stages the pest (Egg, Larva, Pupa, and Adult) has, the ability of each to damage the crop, and their resistance to the different types of products. 

Each of them may have different symmetrical mouth parts & different feeding habits:

• Biting and Chewing- Cockroach & Grasshopper
• Piercing and Sucking- (Mosquito type)
• Chewing & Lapping- Honey Bees
• Rasping and Sucking- Thrips
• Sponging – Housefly
• Siphoning- Butterfly
• Mandibulo Suctorial- Antlion

Similarly, various harmful pathogens like fungi, bacteria, viruses, and actinomycetes can cause plant diseases and yield losses. Within the single species, different variants exist and cause various damage to plants.

To efficiently control them, the farmer has to invest in applying integrated management with various practices and preventive measures. Additionally, the rotation of different types of chemicals (with different modes of action) is essential but barely applied, leading to the development of resistance to pests and pathogens and more expenses and losses. 

Unfortunately, it is a common phenomenon that a large number of farmers apply pesticides even as a precautionary measure, more like a habit, even in periods or circumstances with no real threat or risk. The reason behind this behavior is the fear of a farmer to loos (again) his/her production.

ETL – Economic Threshold Level

For each type of pest and disease, the experts set a base level of damage for different stages of crop development. It is essential that control measures, like spraying with a pesticide, should be applied only after the advice of an experienced farmer or extension center when we are at the economic threshold. Otherwise, the farmer is actually losing money.

For Example, in the Rice Stem borer, 2 Eggs per m2 (or) 10% Dead Heart symptoms at the vegetative stage of the crop (or) 2% White year at the flowering stage are defined as the action signal for the farmer. 

The cost of the pesticides – Pesticide market – retailers and farmers

The cost of chemicals is generally substantial. If the farmer applies the products recklessly (when there is no need or in large amounts), it can be unbearable, leading to many more problems than solutions. 

One of the factors that enhance the problem mentioned above, damaging the environment and increasing farming costs, is the lack of knowledge and advice from the local shops selling agrochemical products. In many cases, the salesperson is not relevant to the sector and is not able to direct the farmer to buy the correct product or point out the best moment and application amount. In other cases, the salesperson is more interested in making a profit than helping the farmer. In many cases, the problem can become even bigger when there are dealers who push the benefit margin higher, taking advantage of the farmers. This is what is happening nowadays, especially in the delta region in Tamilnadu, India. Finally, the salesperson rarely advises the farmer on how to apply the product and where to find the guidelines for using the agrochemical. Mixing the product with others can increase the efficiency of the application and combine fertilization and plant protection together, reducing the costs of passing twice from the field with the tractor. However, not all substances can/should be mixed, and there is a very strict order and way of combining them. It is essential that the farmer knows that. 

As an agricultural graduate, I am addressing an open call to all colleagues in the sector to try and change this situation and help farmers buy only the products they need and apply them in the correct dose and time. 

My request to the government and policymakers is to:

• Supporting and improving agricultural extension activities & educating the farmers regarding pest & disease management.
• To interfere directly and regulate the sale of Agricultural chemicals.
• We have more than enough scientists and Agriculture graduates, and we need to put them to good use, helping and consulting the farmers. Do not let the sale of agrochemicals into the hands of anyone. 
• May the government subsidize new small-scale industries that will provide these chemicals at an affordable cost.