ECONOMIC,ETHICAL AND OTHER ISSUES

Increased energy consumption: Many important compounds for making fertilizers and pesticides like ammonia, urea is made from natural gas and other petroleum products. Natural gas is overwhelmingly used for the production of ammonia, but other energy sources, together with a hydrogen source, can be used for the production of nitrogen compounds suitable for fertilizers. The cost of natural gas makes up about 90% of the cost of producing ammonia. The increase in price of natural gases over the past decade, along with other factors such as increasing demand, has contributed to an increase in fertilizer price. Currently in India central government gives subsidy on fertilizers even though it reduces a little burden on farmers but it has resulted in the large trade deficit. Since natural gas and crude oil are non-renewable resources and are significant contribution to pollution we should decrease their use. As Oil prices are increasing India which imports most of its oil requirements should decrease its oil consumption. Since production of fertilizers accounts for larger part of petroleum products it should decrease the use of synthetic fertilizers and other chemicals.

Political consequences: Many of the companies that produce pesticides are large Multi-national companies which thanks to their enormous economic power are promoting the use of harmful pesticides in the third world countries. Even though many chemicals like Endosulphan are banned in US and other developed countries they are used in large quantities in developing and underdeveloped countries. The powerful lobby of MNC’s like Monsanto are able to influence the political class of these countries and avoid ban on chemicals which are already powerful. Still more fearful is the fact that these companies are becoming virtual monopolies in the entire sector of agriculture raw materials like pesticides, seeds etc. They charge the farmers with very high prices and it is a significant burden on farmers. Since these chemicals are required to be applied every year continuously that to in an increasing amount. They need to buy this from those companies in an increasing amount which results in a significant burden to the farmers. Many take debt for this and if the crop fails they need to face significant debt burden which many times results in farmers’ suicide. I think the Increase in farmers suicide in recent years can be attributed to these factors. Here the question on the entire method of industrial agriculture. It is one of the most important reasons behind our ‘agrarian crisis.

Issues of sustainability: Most of these chemicals are made from non-renewable sources like fossil fuels. It is evident that their use can’t be continued forever. The method of industrial agriculture also uses a lot amount of water but water scarcity is increasing day by day. It is also very capital intensive. So it is very evident that it is an un-sustainable model of practicing agriculture. It is both economically and environmentally un-viable model. This must be replaced by a more realistic model of sustainable agriculture.

Ethical issues regarding use of chemicals in agriculture

The discussion on role of pesticides involves lot of ethical issues which itself is a part of environmental ethics. Any discussion on pesticides or any other environmental issues is incomplete without a discussion of ethical issues involved there. In considering the ‘correct’ ethical approaches to these issues there is a debate between Utilitarianism and deontological perspectives. I think Utilitarianism is too narrow approach. It is next to impossible to do a cost-benefit analysis of the effects of pesticides. Risk associated with the use of pesticides is often not clearly visible. The case of DDT clearly demonstrates that initially the risk and cost associated with pesticides are highly underestimated. Deontology is better but it is still narrow since it considers only Human beings as the end in themselves without including other beings. I think the better approach is of ‘Eco-centrism which considers the well being of the entire earth. As our ancestors who believed in the concept of “Vasudhaiva kutumbakam” i.e. ‘the whole world is one family’. At least now we should leave our narrow approaches towards nature and Develop a holistic approach.

In summary when i look at these issues of pesticide usage what we get is rather a very gloomy picture of our present scenario. I feel that as if we are sitting on a time bomb without worrying about it. We should act as soon as possible. If not today than never. We can at least start reducing the use of these chemicals by adopting organic farming and other alternative mechanisms.