The birth of diseases through artificial farming.

Ever since we were kids we were always told how pesticides and artificial ways of agriculture were harmful to us. This statement is probably the only thing I remember because it was too darn short, simple and gives out the message without complicating it. But why follow that when environment is also converted into a business investment right? I know I was terrified after finding out all the chemicals that are injected in the food we eat. I mean can you imagine gulping down those poisonous articles?

In the past few months the usage of pesticides all over the word has taken over the traditional methods of farming. The Pesticide Industries in India have reached $6.8 Billion in FY17 from half the market share in FY12.

There is another thing that might come to you as a shocker. Half the in borne diseases are caused due the intake of these commodities. The rural folks have the worst impact. Last month about 40 farmers died and more than 700 were hospitalized in Maharashtra due pesticide poisoning. Children are also very immensely impacted by early exposure to pesticides. There is strong evidence that connects early exposure of children to toxins to various developmental problems including impaired cognitive functions and asthma. The chances of women being inclined to breast cancer increases as well. According to official statistics, pesticide poisoning is directly responsible for the death of at least 10,000 people every year. The Indian government has also issued a notice regarding this; to put a ban on the chemical usage.

Not to forget, the pesticides also contribute to the damage done to the air. A chunk of the recent Delhi smog was one of the biggest episodes produced by crop burning. One might hear from the farmers that it is cost effective, but the truth of the matter is that, the chemical produces are not killing the pests really. In some studies in US and other place, the pests keep evolving, find more defence systems to fight the chemicals. But the target audience of these chemicals ultimately are th human consumers.

In America, the latest trend for growing crops is through genetically modified organisms. Celebrities and public figures of various fields have spent years painting horror stories about the impacts of eating GMO products. The simple fact is that there is more material benefit from organic food compared to GMO crops, and GMO foods have negative health consequences. The usage of these alternative agricultural techniques have resulted in the unstable combinations of plant, animal, bacterial and virus genes that do not occur in nature or through traditional crossbreeding methods. Genetic modification affects many of the products we consume on a daily basis.

For starters, GMO’s and pesticide infected products enhance the risk of pancreatic diseases. Secondly, GMO’s do not increase yields, and work against feeding a hungry world. So you’re really not doing any humane activity by purchasing these products. GMOs are created using gene transfers as opposed to natural reproduction. Gene transfer involves injecting a gene from one species into a completely different species, which yields unexpected and often unpredictable results. There have been studies on how GMO’s have cause birth defects on infants.

Theoretically speaking, the pesticide industry in India is supervised and farmers are meant to be educated on usage and dosage of pesticides by trained agricultural agents who are supposed to reach out to them, which hardly happens.

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