INTERACTION AMONGST THE CHEMICAL PESTICIDES,AGRICULTURE AND HUMAN HEALTH: AN ENVIRONMENTALCASE STUDY IN NADIA DISTRICT, WEST BENGAL, INDIAMAYUKH ADHIKARY, ANIRUDDHA GANGOPADHYAY, SANDIP MONDAL ANDKOUSHIK BRAHMACHARIAbstract Chemical pesticides and fertilizers are well known in todayâs farming system and played asignificant role in boosting the crop yield during the last four to five decades worldwide. But on the otherhand, excessive use of these chemicals has been degrading natural resources (soil, water, air) globally andleads to increase environmental pollution. With this background, the broader objective has been set asâassessing the impact of chemical pesticides and fertilizers on the soil, water, air vis-Ã -vis human beings andlocal biodiversity, a study was carried out in two different villages (Ghoragachha and Bhabanipur) of Nadiadistrict, West Bengal, India with 200 number of respondents. The majority of the farmers belongs tomarginal and small classes and is mainly vegetable growers. They also cultivate fruits and a few cultivateagronomic crops with a cropping intensity of greater than 200 percent. Most of the respondents donât takeprecautionary measures during pesticide storage, handling, and storing due to illiteracy among therespondents. Excess use of pesticides just increases the face value of the produce. They have no suchawareness about crop-pest resistance and soil contamination. Indiscriminate use and application ofimproper doses of pesticides may cause their symptoms as well as the environment. |