The world's population currently stands at 7.5 billion and is estimated to rise to 9.3 billion by 2050. This will require global food production to increase by 70% over the same time period in order to meet the increased demand. To add to the problem, 25% to 40% of world crop output is lost due to the attack of pests, weeds and diseases. To minimize these losses, and to enhance yield, it is essential to use crop protection chemicals responsibly. 

At 1.21 billion, India is the second most populous country after China in the world. To sustain the growing population's food and nutrition needs, India will have to adopt the sustainable measures in agriculture sector. At 180 million hectares, India holds the second largest agricultural land holdings in the world. India is the third largest agricultural producer by value right behind China & the United States. The scenario in India, even considering that we have different climatic conditions and cropping patterns is also underscored with similar macro trends. With the boom in population, it is estimated that by 2022, India will surpass China as the world's most populous country which may lead to demand supply imbalance of agrarian produced. Other than growing population our farmers have to bear tremendous economic losses on account of erratic monsoons and inefficiencies in the distribution chain. Economic losses in turn have in turn heightened insecurities regarding agriculture as a profession.

To overcome the challenges faced by the Indian agriculture sector pesticides were introduced. The production of pesticides started in India in 1952 with the establishment of a plant for the production of Benzene hexachloride (BHC) near Calcutta, and India is now the second largest manufacturer of pesticides in Asia after China and ranks twelfth globally. What defines a pesticide? Technically a pesticide is a substance or mixture of substances used to kill a plant or animal pest. So, this includes herbicides, fungicides, insecticides, miticides and the myriad of other "icides" that greet us in giant hardware stores. They have created immense benefits and streamlined the harvesting process, however they also have had some significant negative damages to our health and environment. Let's discover how these frequently used chemicals benefit and affects us by looking at all of the pros and cons associated.

The primary benefits are the consequences of the pesticides effects – the direct gains expected from their use.

- Cost effectiveness – pesticides are an economical way of controlling issues, especially the large-scale stuff.

-Timeliness and flexibility– by selecting the best product for the situation,  pests can be managed quickly and effectively, saving a great deal more chemical application in the future.

-Prevention of problems – preventing weeds in gardens, lawns and large  scale landscapes, preventing the spread of pests.

-Protection of pets and humans. Without chemicals the treatment of  spiders, cockroaches, and fleas would be tricky.

-Protection of the environment. If no chemicals were available to control  environmental pests like noxious weeds, feral animals etc. Our  environment would suffer very badly. Using herbicides to control crop  weeds reduces the need for cultivation, thus reducing land degradation.

On the flip side, 

Effect of pesticides on Environment

-These include mainly the risk of land degradation, fall in the per capita  arable land and increasing water scarcity. Reduction of beneficial species.  Non-target organisms, including predators and parasites of pests, can also  be affected by pesticides. This results in changes to natural systems and  biological balances. Think of the bees, won?t someone think of the bees!!

-Drift of sprays and vapor during application is just plain bad, and can  cause untold damage in the general environment.

-Environmental pollution from careless application and runoff can result  in wildlife and fish losses.

-Ground water contamination by leached chemicals can occur in high use  areas if persistent products are used.

-Resistance to the pesticide used can develop in target pests due to  overuse and/or incorrect use of the chemical.

 
Effect of Pesticides on Human Health

Pesticide exposure can cause a range of neurological health effects such as memory loss, loss of coordination, reduced speed of response to stimuli, reduced visual ability, altered or uncontrollable mood and general behavior, and reduced motor skills. These symptoms are often very subtle and may not be recognized by the medical community as a clinical effect. Other possible health effects include asthma, allergies, and hypersensitivity, and pesticide exposure is also linked with cancer, hormone disruption, and problems with reproduction and fetal development. Workers with occupational exposures to pesticides on average have significantly greater exposure than the rest of the population.

There is now a need for the agriculture sector to undergo technological transformation and adopt modern methods which reduce the dependency on monsoons and ensure more productive use of the available resources and thereby serve the nation efficaciously. Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is a sustainable approach to pest management by combination of biological, mechanical, physical and chemical methods. It is important to educate the farmers about the appropriate kind of pesticide, its dosage and quantity and application frequency. Correct and judicious use of Crop protection chemicals support sustainable farm management and delivers significant socio-economic benefits to meet the challenges of feeding an ever growing population.

References:
http://ficci.in/spdocument/20662/Agrochemicals-Knowledge-report.pdf
https://flowpsychology.com/11-pros-and-cons-of-pesticides/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2946087/