KILL PESTS NOT HUMAN BEINGS !!

HARFULL Effect Nine out of the twelve most dangerous and persistent chemicals are pesticides (According to the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Pollutants) Pesticides have been found to be associated with- Leukemia (Blood Cancer) Cancer of the brain, kidneys, pancreas and prostate gland * Breast cancer; liver, lungs and skin cancers Strong evidence indicates that exposure to pesticides is associated with- 1. Birth defects, alteration in fetal growth and fetal death. ( a fetus is the small baby growing inside a woman's womb) 2. Impaired fertility in men.

ROUTES THAT CAN EXPOSE PEOPLE TO PESTICIDES ARE - 1. Food --> CONSUMERS 2. Chemicals used at home & 3. Occupation --->FARMERS A healthy diet should consist of 4-5 servings of fruits and vegetables everyday. Fruits and vegetables contain remnants of pesticides even after they are washed and peeled.

Pesticides cause slow poisoning of the human body ! Where does this leave us? After all, we do have the right to three HEALTHY meals a day. HOW CAN WE ENSURE GOOD HEALTH FOR OURSELVES AND OUR CHILDREN? THE HONEST ANSWER IS ORGANIC FOOD. TAKE CHARGE OF YOUR LIFE! DEMAND ORGANIC FOOD!! Organic farming is a type of agriculture that usesnatural fertilizers and pest-control methods, and excludes the use of chemical fertilizers, pesticides, plant growth hormones and genetically modified seeds.

About 95% of the sprayed pesticides reach a destination other than their intended target and cause contamination of air, water and soil. * The use of pesticides destroys natural habitat (especially for birds), decreases bio-diversity and threatens endangered species. * Pests often develop resistance to a pesticide. As a result, farmers are forced to use a new pesticide or a greater dose of the pesticide to overcome resistance. All this leads to worsening of the problem of pollution, which ultimately affects human health also.

ORGANIC FARMING TO THE RESCUE ! The Distinctive Features of Organic Farming are- 1) CROP DIVERSIFICATION 2) BIO-FERTILIZERS & 3) NATURAL PEST CONTROL 1) Crop Diversification- Planting a variety of different crops in the same place helps to support a large range of soil microorganisms and other factors that improve the overall health of the farm. Chemical farming has extracted too much out of mother earth and made it barren! Now, its time to replenish it with nutrients. 2) Bio-fertilizers- Bio-fertilizers are formed by the natural breakdown of organic matter (like crop residues and organic manure) by bacteria.

3) Natural Pest Control- Natural pest control methods include- – a) Encouraging predatory beneficial insects to control pests. (This is done by serving nursery plants to predatory insects) – b) Rotating crops to different locations every year to interrupt pest reproduction cycles. – c) Using plants with bitter tasting leaves like ‘Neem’ and ‘Aloe-Vera’. – d) Using sanitation to remove pest habitat.

Why GO ORGANIC ? International studies have shown that soils under organic cultivation retain moisture and require 25% less irrigation than conventional soils. A study conducted in 2003 revealed that yields from organic farms are 20-40% higher as compared to those from conventional farms during drought. This fact is of paramount importance in our country, where farmers are largely dependent on rainfall for a bountiful yield from their farms. A study conducted in 2007 (to determine the efficiency of organic agriculture versus conventional agriculture) concluded that in developing countries like India, Organic Farming yields 80% more production than with conventional farming.

How to Reduce Risk from Pesticide Use Do not work alone with pesticides. Use the pesticide only on the crop it is meant for. Use the smallest amount you can. More is not always better. Do not mix different pesticides together. Keep pesticides off your body. Keep pesticides off other people. Keep pesticides away from water sources. Do not use pesticides when it is windy, raining, or about to rain. Make sure your clothing covers you completely. Try not to wipe your eyes, face, and neck when you handle pesticides. Wash your hands before eating, drinking, or touching your face. Use protective clothing and equipment if you have it or can get it. Do not enter sprayed fields until it is safe to do so. Bathe well after using pesticides.

When you work in the fields

Being in such a region Its going to be HOT! But that is no excuse for ignoring safety!

Never use empty pesticide containers for drinking, washing, food storage or anything else. Do not use plastic pesticide wraps for raincoats or any other personal use. The best thing to do with empty pesticide containers is to bury them. Wash them first to stop the poison from spreading to other places. Fill empty pesticide cans partially with water and rinse the inside of the can. Repeat 2 times. Put the rinse water in your sprayer tank or on the field, not into water meant for any other use. Make a hole in the container and then flatten it. Bury it at least 50 meters from water. Dig a pit and line the bottom and sides with a layer of concrete. Put the containers in the pit and fill it with stones and soil.