For Agri Page. A farmer applying pesticides on his vegetable farm in Udagamandalam in Tamilnadu. Consumption of pesticides has increased manifold in monocropped areas and also where commercial crops are grown.The pesticide consumption has reached a level of 75,000 mt from 2330 mt. 54 per cent of the total quantity of pesticides used in the country is used on cotton,17 per cent on rice and 13 per cent on vegetables and fruits which occupy 5 per cent ,24 per cent and 3 per cent of the total cropped area. Contamination of soil and water resources and pesticides residues found in food samples is an indication of the vulnerability of human population to toxic pesticide residuces and resultant health hazards. Digital Photo by K_ K_ Mustafah.3/2/06For Agri Page. A farmer applying pesticides on his vegetable farm in Udagamandalam in Tamilnadu. Consumption of pesticides has increased manifold in monocropped areas and also where commercial crops are grown.The pesticide consumption has reached a level of 75,000 mt from 2330 mt. 54 per cent of the total quantity of pesticides used in the country is used on cotton,17 per cent on rice and 13 per cent on vegetables and fruits which occupy 5 per cent ,24 per cent and 3 per cent of the total cropped area. Contamination of soil and water resources and pesticides residues found in food samples is an indication of the vulnerability of human population to toxic pesticide residuces and resultant health hazards. Digital Photo by K_ K_ Mustafah.3/2/06 | Photo Credit: K_ K_ Mustafah