Think twice before consuming the shining violet brinjals or extra large cabbage having purple color at the stem or extra large and fresh green looking bottlegaurd. These vegetables that seem to be fresh and healthy, might be laced with harmful pesticides. Farmers in order to increase their agricultural produce use dangerously poisonous chemicals called pesticides. They use banned and not recommended pesticides on vegetable crops which can have adverse affect on human health. In some cases farmers have been found to be using copper sulphate, a poisonous substance, for controlling pests on cabbage.
Farmers use spray pesticides which dangerously harm the environment as the birds and small insects are also affected. They are also watered to the crops and thus the underground water is also contaminated. People living in farming belts have alarming effect on their health. Children complain of rashes and boils. Many women have reported miscarriages and old men report of their fingers turning numb. Pesticides have also been detected in ground water and even in animal milk. These lethal chemicals gather in the body leading to DNA alterations and moreover newborns could be having congenital malformations or growth retardation. Some farmers dip brinjals in methaline before supplying them in the markets.
This gives shining violet color to brinjals that attracts customers.
In older times rivulets saw a large number of migratory birds and were full of fish but now all the water bodies are devoid of marine life due to the impact of pesticides. Residents who drink water from the hand pump or village well are exposed to this menace. Fertilizers, pesticides, additives and preservatives, that are used in the production of our food are claimed to have caused cancers, allergies and occasionally, hyperactivity in children. Many leading processed food manufacturers add preservatives to stop them from becoming mouldy but it can cause serious health risk.
Taking into the harmful effects of pesticides these should be completely banned. Rather organic compounds or cow dung should be popularized. Water only from reliable resources should be used. Steps should be ensured for provision of safe drinking water and proper disposal of sewage. Industries should treat effluents before discharging them into the water bodies. Well said “Prevention is better than cure.”