title: Farmers and formulations--rural health perspective.
abstract: Conventional farming demands excessive use of chemicals in the form of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, confirming to the norms of Green Revolution. Farmers in general, specifically in the developing countries resort to injudicious and excessive use of pesticides which is linked to the illiteracy and poverty of the rural farming community. Their overriding concern for profitable agriculture, has rendered the health of the farmers at a greater risk of developing dreadful maladies including various type of cancers, reproductive disorders, respiratory, dermal, and neuropsychological problems etc. The possible means of reducing the health risks are discussed, including the global effort to regulate the manufacture, transport and use of highly toxic pesticides. Slow and programmed transition to alternative agriculture and strengthening of farmers' knowledge on health, ecosystem and environment will prove effective.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Applied Sciences, Asian Institute of Medicine, Science and Technology, 2, PersiaranCempaka, Aman Jaya, 08000 Sungai Petani, Kedah Darul Aman, Malaysia.
authors.forename: X
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Rathinam
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kota
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Thiyagar
mesh_terms: D000382:Agricultural Workers' Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000517:prevention & control; D010575:Pesticides / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012423:Rural Health
chemical_list: D010575:Pesticides