Abstract:
Pesticides are chemical compounds used, in certain
formulations and forms, to control plant disease, pests and
weeds, as well as parasites on animals and hwnans. The damage
caused by agricultural pests is enormous, amounting to as much
as US $ 55-75 billion per year. Damage in countries with a
highly developed agriculture ranges from 15 to 20%, while in
developing countries it amounts to 3O-~ of the total crop
value. Enormous quantities of pesticides are used worldwide to
protect over 3,000 plant species from about 10,000 pest species.
The largest quantities of pesticides are used to protect maize,
rice, cotton and fruit orchards. An annual increase in pesticide
consumption of l4~ is expected in the future.