Murugappan Chandrasekaran

Economic & Environmental Impact of Pesticides Use in India: an Exclusive Study in Western Tamil Nadu Murugappan Chandrasekaran

Indiscriminate appplication of Pesticide causes serious problem to human health and environment. One of a measure to reduce pesticide related risks is Integrated Pest Management(IPM) approach. The study focuses the assessment of (1) economics of pesticide use and its efficiency in paddy and cotton in western zone of Tamil Nadu and (2) environment damage potential of pesticide application in paddy and cotton. The latter was based on a Environmental Impact Quotient (EIQ) field rating method. In Tamil Nadu among among all crops, cotton and paddy consume 69-73 % of the total pesticides use. Using primary data to assesses economics and the health problems associated with pesticide exposure. Use of pesticides were more in non-IPM farms compared to IPM farms of both paddy and cotton crops. It results in lower net returns of Rs.9815 in IPM paddy compare to Rs.6617 of non-IPM paddy. It was in IPM-cotton, a net return was higher (Rs.25083) compared to non-IPM cotton (Rs.20108). The high EIQ values were higher in non-IPM cotton (46.93) and paddy (40.26) compared to IPM paddy and cotton, which indicated the resistance of environmental hazards can help in designing environmental policies and regulation.