Many farmers around the world are in danger. New data shows that nearly 46% of the global farming population suffers from pesticide poisoning every year. This means about 402 million to 433 million farmers and workers are poisoned annually. There are 934 million farmers in the world, and almost half of them face this problem. As the world needs more food, these chemicals become a big threat to health.
The problem is not the same everywhere. Southern Asia has the highest number of poisoning cases. South-east Asia and East Africa also have high rates. In West Africa, the situation is very bad in Burkina Faso. In that country, nearly 84% of farmers and workers have experienced poisoning. This is the highest rate in the world.
Pesticide poisoning also causes many deaths. About 11,000 people die every year because of these chemicals. Nearly 60% of these deaths happen in India. The use of pesticides is growing very fast. In 2023, people used 3.8 million tonnes of pesticides. This is double the amount used in 1990.
Scientists are also worried about long-term health problems. Some pesticides may cause Parkinson's disease. This is a serious condition that affects the brain. The danger is not just immediate poisoning, but health problems that appear many years later. As the use of chemicals increases, the risk to human life also grows. We need better safety rules to protect the millions of people who feed the world.