The increase in Agriculture

Formerly, nomadic people were kept close to their fields by agriculture. This also sparked the growth of permanent settlements. Linking was through trade. In some places, new economies were so prosperous that new cities and civilizations started growing. Mesopotamia (modern-day Iraq and Iran)’s Tigris and Euphrates Rivers. The Nile River in Egypt was the site of the earliest civilizations built on intensive agriculture.

Importance of Agriculture

In order to meet the world’s development objectives, healthy, sustainable, and inclusive food systems are essential. Agriculture development is one such tool that holds the power to end extreme poverty. It can also boost shared prosperity and feed around 9.7 million people by 2050. For raising the incomes of the poorest, the agriculture sector is two to four times more effective. This is when comparing it to the other sectors. Agriculture is also necessary for economic growth. It accounts for 4% of the global gross domestic product (GDP). In some least-developed countries, it can account for more than 25% of GDP.

What are agrochemicals in Agriculture?

Agrochemicals in the agriculture sector are pesticides, herbicides, or fertilizers to manage ecosystems. Undeveloped versions of these fertilizers have been for millennia. This was done in order to improve crop yields and control pest populations.

The earliest use of this dates back to around 2500 BC. Formerly, the Sumerian farmers were using sulfur compounds in order to reduce insect populations. Doing this also reduced the subsequent risk of pest-related famine.

An evolution in synthetic chemical manufacture has vastly improved pesticide processes to cater to the growing global population. This consequent increase in food demand. However, plant pests and diseases can destroy up to 40% of the world’s crops. This is even with the effective use of pesticides.

What are the types of agrochemicals in Agriculture?

Implementation of a concerted effort to actively use a wide variety of agrochemicals. To guarantee consistently high-quality food for widespread consumption, the maintenance and control of the global food supply are equally important. The types of agrochemicals in agriculture are:

Pesticides or chemicals are substances put in crops to destroy insects and other organisms, weeds, and fungi that could spoil crop yields
Synthetic fertilizers like ammonium nitrate, encourage crop growth by saturating it with soils with nutrients.
Acidifiers and liming agents, alter the pH levels of soils to suit the planting properties of given crops.
Soil conditioners like gypsum, which is designed to condition soils with high sodium (Na) contents to improve planting conditions;
Growth hormones, or synthetic chemicals, speed up animal and plant growth.

Engineering crops with synthetic herbicide resistance is one of the newest and most innovative agrochemical techniques. In fact, they even produce their own insecticides.