El Uso de Plaguicidas en América Latina: Tendencias e implicaciones ambientales (Memoria Encargada)

Abstract

The current demand for pesticides in Latin America exceeds US $ 2000 million in value. Up to 1990, consumption is expected to rise by 7 to 12%. The use of pesticides has been fully accepted in Lati America as a readily available means of pest control. Nevertheless, even today pests are responsible for the loss of 25 to 40 % of potential harvests. In banana cultivation, the cost of pesticides accounts for 30 to 35% of production costs. Latin America is in the process of changing over from persistent organochlorines to pesticides which are more sophisticated, more expensive and less persistent. The countries in the region are looking for ecologically acceptable permanent methods of pest control.