Use of Chemical Sprays on Vegetables: Advantages and Disadvantages

A substance or mixture of substances whose purpose is to prevent, extinguish, or repel pests or to regulate plants is referred to as a pesticide. Pesticides can also be used to control plants. The use of pesticides comes with a number of important advantages. Food security, increased export revenues, and a reduction in the international spread of disease are examples of secondary benefits. Furthermore, with the advent of online platforms and stranger chat services, farmers and agricultural experts from different regions can now connect and exchange knowledge on the safe and effective use of pesticides.

Advantages of Using Pesticides

1. Prevents the Spread of Dangerous Insects and Disease

Pesticides are used to help control the population of destructive pests such as mosquitoes, locusts, Japanese beetles, corn rootworms, Colorado potato bugs, and true bugs, of which there are 75,000 different species that feed on crops. According to studies, the production of fruit would drop by 78% without the use of pesticides, along with a reduction of 54% in the production of vegetables.

2. Increased amounts of food produced

The use of pesticides typically results in significantly higher crop yields due to the fact that the plants that are grown will have more energy available to them for growth. In many instances, the larger the plant, the greater the number of crops it is able to produce. Additionally, there will be fewer crops lost due to pests, which will further increase the crop yields that farmers receive from their land.

3. May contribute to the alleviation of world hunger

Increases in crop yields also mean that there will be more opportunities for the local population to consume fresh vegetables and fruits. The local population of many countries, particularly in underdeveloped countries located in the southern hemisphere of our planet, continues to place a significant amount of importance on the harvests that are produced by the country's farmers in order to guarantee their continued access to food.

4. Insects and diseases that are transmitted through water can be avoided with the help of pesticides

Because pesticides are designed to eliminate any and all types of pests found in crops, land, and soil, they also prevent the spread of infectious diseases that are transmitted by water or insects. Diseases such as malaria, Lyme disease, and others can be avoided thanks to the use of pesticides. It was beneficial to human health and assisted in the prevention of a wide variety of diseases.

Negative Aspects of Pesticides

1. The use of pesticides in agricultural settings has been linked to a variety of adverse health effects in humans.

2. Many of the chemicals found in pesticides are known to cause various forms of cancer in humans.

3. Some farmers use an excessive amount of pesticides, which results in an increased amount of residues being released into the ecosystem and contributes to environmental pollution.

4. They are responsible for the degradation of land and can have long-term effects that are detrimental to the fertility of soil.

5. Consuming toxic food on a consistent basis is detrimental to human health. The use of toxic pesticides, which can present themselves in a variety of forms all around us, has been linked to a wide range of diseases, including allergies, asthma, and cancer.

Conclusion

In summary, pesticides have several advantages, including their ability to control pests, increase crop yields, and prevent the spread of diseases. These benefits contribute to food security, increased export revenues, and a reduction in the international spread of disease. However, the use of pesticides also has negative aspects, including adverse health effects in humans, the potential to cause cancer, environmental pollution, and soil degradation. Additionally, consuming toxic food can lead to various diseases, including allergies, asthma, and cancer. As a result, it is important to use pesticides judiciously and consider alternative methods of pest control.