SYNTHETIC AND ORGANIC PESTICIDES : THEIR IMPACT ON AGRICULTURE
Pesticides are substances that are meant to control pests, including weeds. There are several types of pesticides like herbicide, insecticides, nematicide, molluscicide, piscicide, avicide, rodenticide, bectericide, insect repellent, animal repellent, anti microbial and fungicide. The most common of these are herbicides which account for approximately 80% of all pesticide use. Pesticides can be defined as any substance or mixture of substances intended for preventing, destroying or controlling any pest including vectors of human or animal disease, unwanted species of plants or animals, causing harm during or otherwise interfering with the production, processing, storage, transport or marketing of food, agricultural commodities, wood and wood products. The term includes substances intended for use as a plant growth regulator, defoilant, desiccant or agent for thinning fruit or preventing the pre-mature fall of fruits.