What you need to know about pesticides

The use of inorganic pesticides gained prominence in the nineteenth century. People were initially using chemicals derived from natural sources. Through the 1940s, many pesticidal compounds were synthesised, among them DDT, 2, 4-D. Although very useful for their time, these old generation pesticides had some disadvantages, such as application at high rates, lack of selectivity, crop injury, etc. Pesticide science has made tremendous strides over the last century, yet, even with these advancements, questions still surround the pesticide market. Are they necessary and are they causing more harm than good? We talked to CropLife Africa Middle East boss Stella Simiyu to shed more light on the pesticide question.

What are pesticides and why are they needed?