Narrative Review of Pesticide Use in India: Current Evidence, Impacts, and Future Outlook from an Ayurvedic Perspective
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.70066/jahm.v14i2.2442Keywords:
Ayurveda, India, Intervention strategies, Narrative Review, Pesticide Poisoning, Public healthAbstract
Background: Pesticide poisoning is an important public health concern in India, a country with an agriculture-based economy. Mainly agrarian economy with heavy dependence on agricultural practices. The widespread overuse of pesticides to increase crop yields and minimize losses to agricultural produce has unintended consequences, including accidental poisoning and adverse health effects among farmers, agricultural workers, and rural communities. Objectives: The Present review explores the socioeconomic implications of pesticide poisoning including healthcare costs, lost productivity, and long-term health complications. Materials and methods: The available literature on the topic under consideration was reviewed in classical Ayurvedic texts. A literature search was also conducted in PubMed, Scopus, the AYUSH Portal, and Government databases related to the concerned topic. Information gathered was analyzed, summarized, and presented. The Boolean operator ‘AND’ and ‘OR’ were used with the key words such as ‘Pesticide poisoning’, ‘India’, ‘Ayurveda’, ‘Public health’, ‘morbidity and mortality’. Results: Challenges of pesticide regulation, monitoring, and enforcement are discussed in light of the need for stricter laws, an effective system of pesticide residue monitoring, and better education of farmers. Above all, intervention strategies to reduce pesticide poisoning should consider promoting integrated pest management, increasing access to safer alternatives, and increasing awareness about proper use and safety precautions for pesticides. Conclusion: Poisoning with pesticides remains a critical issue in India, involving multidisciplinary efforts by government bodies, agricultural institutions, healthcare providers, and local communities. The issue of pesticide poisoning calls for an integrated approach to its solution, encompassing regulatory reforms, improved training, better availability of protective equipment, and the use of sustainable agricultural practices. These initiatives may help to minimize poisoning incidents among farmers, safeguard public health, and provide long-term sustainability to agriculture in India.
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