Asia rice output threatened by pesticide overuse

[n2doc]

March 6, 2011 by Martin Abbugao

The unbridled manufacture and use of pesticides in Asia is raising the spectre of "pest storms" devastating the region's rice farms and threatening food security, scientists have warned.

Increased production of cheap pesticides in China and India, lax regulation and inadequate farmer education are destroying ecosystems around paddies, allowing pests to thrive and multiply, they said.

The problem has emerged over the last decade and -- if left unchecked -- pests could lay waste to vast tracts of Asia's rice farms, according to scientists who took part in a workshop in Singapore last week.

"There is increasing concern that the more we use pesticides in rice fields, it is actually making the pest problem worse," Australian scientist George Lukacs told AFP in an interview.

Under pressure to raise yields to meet growing demand, poorly trained farmers tend to be over-reliant on the chemicals.

more

http://www.physorg.com/news/2011-03-asia-rice-output-threatened-pesticide.html

[Me.]

1. 12 Million Tons Of Rice Had To Be Dumped Last Week

Because of cadmium

[Buzz Clik]

2. DDT revisited

DDT is a perfectly fine pesticide when applied sparingly and when targeting critical pests. But, when farmers found that it was a broad spectrum insecticide, the used it on nearly everything for every bug. Silent Spring pointed out these excesses, and DDT was banned. Even before its banning, however, a lot of insects were building tolerance. The Chinese are heading on the same crash course. They had better rein it in.

Actually, with the ridiculous preponderance of RoundUp Ready crops of all kinds, US farms are headed to Stupid Land all over again.