Q.What are agrochemicals?

Agrochemicals — fertilisers, liming/acidifying agents, soil conditioners, pesticides and animal-husbandry chemicals (antibiotics, hormones) — raise farm productivity but carry significant environmental cost when overused. Excess fertiliser and pesticide use contaminates groundwater and disturbs soil pH and fertility, harming plant growth; persistent residues like DDT and PCBs cause further nutrient/pH imbalance and reduce produce quality, a problem best minimised through sustainable agriculture. Pesticide exposure in humans is linked to brain and blood cancers, neurotoxicity, Parkinson's-like symptoms, infertility, birth defects and reproductive/behavioural disorders. Nitrates from fertilisers react with haemoglobin to form methaemoglobin, reducing oxy …