Thesis: Pesticide and Plant
Chapter 1
THE PROBLEM AND ITS BACKGROUND
Introduction
The Philippines is primarily an agricultural country. Most of the citizens that still live in rural areas support themselves through agriculture. One of the four sub-sectors of agriculture is farming. Farming is one of the common forms of livelihood in the county. The rate of the crops produced here in the country shrank as of 1999 according to the Encyclopedia of Nations. One of the main reasons is the industrialization of farms. The farmers find it hard to establish large rate of growth because of the insufficient funds of the government to invest for the new devices, methods, and products that may help them secure their lives with farming. The current industrial agriculture system promotes the reliance on agrochemicals, both synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, while neglecting to consider their negative effects on the economy of local communities, human health and the environment. The widespread use of irrigation, agrochemicals and new seeds have largely increased agriculture production, but this model of agricultural growth is flawed because of declining crop yields and massive environmental impacts. According to the recent Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) data, between 1961 and 2005 fertilizer applications in the Philippines increased by 1000%, while yields of rice and maize increased only by 200% and 280% respectively, and the yield of pulses remained about the same. From 1977 to 1987 pesticide use increased by 325%, while rice yield increased by only 30%. Pesticide imports have continued to increase, while rice and corn yields have increased at a much smaller rate. In general, the excessive and inappropriate use of chemical fertilizers in crop soils cause land degradation and losses in soil fertility worldwide. Moreover, agrochemicals cause water pollution that directly and indirectly affects human health. According to the National Economic and
THE PROBLEM AND ITS BACKGROUND
Introduction
The Philippines is primarily an agricultural country. Most of the citizens that still live in rural areas support themselves through agriculture. One of the four sub-sectors of agriculture is farming. Farming is one of the common forms of livelihood in the county. The rate of the crops produced here in the country shrank as of 1999 according to the Encyclopedia of Nations. One of the main reasons is the industrialization of farms. The farmers find it hard to establish large rate of growth because of the insufficient funds of the government to invest for the new devices, methods, and products that may help them secure their lives with farming. The current industrial agriculture system promotes the reliance on agrochemicals, both synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, while neglecting to consider their negative effects on the economy of local communities, human health and the environment. The widespread use of irrigation, agrochemicals and new seeds have largely increased agriculture production, but this model of agricultural growth is flawed because of declining crop yields and massive environmental impacts. According to the recent Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) data, between 1961 and 2005 fertilizer applications in the Philippines increased by 1000%, while yields of rice and maize increased only by 200% and 280% respectively, and the yield of pulses remained about the same. From 1977 to 1987 pesticide use increased by 325%, while rice yield increased by only 30%. Pesticide imports have continued to increase, while rice and corn yields have increased at a much smaller rate. In general, the excessive and inappropriate use of chemical fertilizers in crop soils cause land degradation and losses in soil fertility worldwide. Moreover, agrochemicals cause water pollution that directly and indirectly affects human health. According to the National Economic and