CHANGING AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES AND IT’S SOCIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL INFLUENCES

Abstract

Agricultural technology advancements are continuously taking place in India, as the progress of agricultural sector directly impacts a major proportion of population and its living condition. Farmers are interested to adopt new inventions and technologies in agriculture. Modern agricultural practices are significantly affecting human health and environment. The release of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide are adversely affecting biodiversity and increasing air, water and soil pollution. Agricultural residue management, use of pesticides and insecticides, inorganic manure, chemical fertilizers leads to harmful effect on human health and increasing environmental pollution. Recent agriculture trends emphasizes on enhancing agricultural production in terms of quantity in less time, overlooking its adverse affects. In this paper we have analyzed the negative effects of modern agricultural practices on human health and environment. It leads to decline in soil fertility, loss of biodiversity, climate change, air, water and soil pollution, environmental degradation etc. Our farmers are now adopting modern agricultural techniques, using chemical fertilizers, pesticides, insecticides, expanding irrigation facilities, using high yielding varieties of seeds, modern machines, varying crop sequences etc. But these efforts of expanding food supply in less time is taking place at the cost of human health and environment degradation. Spray of harmful chemicals on crops not only pollutes underground water and air but also bad for human and animal health. Non harmonious, unwise and unsustainable agricultural practices have a considerable impact on environment and also harmful for living beings.