Economic, social and environmental factors impacting overuse of chemical pesticides in Auroville and Cuddalore region

Student name: Ms Ridhi
Guide: Dr Gopal Sarangi
Year of completion: 2020
Host Organisation: Sustainable Livelihood Institute, Auroville
Supervisor (Host Organisation): Mr Raja Ganesh

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Abstract:

As the two regions Auroville and Cuddalore are currently consuming a lot of pesticides for the production of cashew crop, the study explores a number of factors which are responsible for the pesticides overuse in the said regions and the negative impact it has had on people’s health. These factors are examined by a means of literature review and field surveys among the farming households and local experts in Kuilapalayam and Idayanchawadi in Auroville region and Melmampattu in the Cuddalore region.It is concluded that apart from lacking expertise in technical knowledge there are a number of social factors and consumer behaviour which promote pesticide overuse in the region which requires a radical change. In the end a few solutions are proposed which may be of help in policy making to avert any major environmental and health impact.

Keywords: Chemical pesticides,Environment, Endosulfan.