Pesticides, known as agricultural poison and used to protect plants from pests, continue to threaten public health. Pesticides, which are used unconsciously and intensively by producers, cause serious illnesses, both adults and children, while the “use of plant protection products at the provincial level” data of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry sheds light on the delusion of the situation. Although the latest data shows that the use of pesticide in Turkey has decreased for the first time, especially in some provinces, the registered increases indicate serious health and environmental risks. According to the latest data of the Ministry in 2024, 53 million 515 thousand liters of pesticides were used in Turkey; This figure corresponds to a decrease of 8 percent compared to 2023. Experts, on the other hand, draw attention to the contraction of agricultural activities in some provinces, the effect of climatic and drought.
Most of them are in Adana
Although there has been a decrease in the use of pesticides throughout Türkiye, the developments in Adana overshadow this general optimistic picture. In 2024, 7 million 122 thousand 395 liters of pesticide in Adana showed that the use of pesticide, this ratio corresponds to about 14 percent of agricultural poisons used throughout Türkiye. In 2023 Considering that the use of pesticides in Adana is 4 million 849 thousand liters, it is revealed that there is an increase of 47 percent in a year.
Mersin is in the second place
Mersin was the most pesticide after Adana. According to official data, 4 million 811 thousand liters of pesticides were used in the city in 2024, while this figure corresponds to an increase of about 17 percent. The amount of pesticide used in Mersin in 2023 was recorded as 4 million 101 thousand liters. Mersin is one of the factors that increase the use of pesticide, especially in greenhouse agriculture and the fact that it is one of the regions of products throughout the year.
Decrease in Antalya and Manisa
On the other hand, Antalya, which is the center of Türkiye’s under -cover agriculture, is one of the rare major agricultural cities that have declined in the use of pesticide. In 2023, the use of pesticide, which was 4 million 460 thousand 580 liters, fell to 3 million 892 thousand 820 liters in 2024. This means a decrease of about 13 percent. Similar painting took place in Manisa. Manisa, one of the important viticulture and olive production centers of Türkiye, has also experienced a remarkable decline in the use of pesticides. In 2023, 3 million 186 thousand liters of pesticides were used in Manisa, while this figure fell to 2 million 448 thousand 348 liters in 2024.
Biological struggle
Interpretation of the last table that emerged Internal Medicine Specialist Dr .. Ayça Kaya, “the products on the market which residue in which level of pesticide we do not know the analysis,” he said. In his latest book titled “Re -Life”, Dr. Rock, “Structural transformations such as spreading alternative struggle methods in agriculture, biological struggle, integrated harmful management, organic agricultural practices become necessity.”
Children at risk
Food engineer, who stated that this data points not only to the food safety issue, but also a public health crisis that directly affects child health. Bülent Şık “Especially children are much more vulnerable to pesticides than pesticides. In the environment and the human body that does not dissolve, therefore known as ‘infinite chemicals’ dangerous compounds, children’s neurological and behavioral development negatively affects,” he said.
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