Climate Change Can Make Farming Dangerous

Among the dangers of climate change is that it sharply changes what works for successful farming. Among these dangers is that insects that damage crops have spread to wider areas geographically. The seasons during which they are active can also be longer. 

Farmers often combat these insects using insecticides, which can be harmful to human health. “Besides, increasing pest controls means increased use of pesticides, which can harm farmers’ health. In the cocoa industry, every year 44% of farmers are poisoned by pesticides, with chocolate consumers also at risk,” according to Earth.org 

Corn is another crop that carries this risk. Another is bananas.

The challenge for the farmers is that most are extremely poor. There is no alternative employment for them where they are. The chance of migration elsewhere is minimal.

100 Degree Temperatures

There are other dangers. Among them is extreme heat. Some of the crops mentioned are grown in areas where daytime temperatures are routinely 100 degrees F and humidity is high. In some cases, daytime temperatures can be even hotter.

Climate change poses numerous challenges to human health. Most are based on extreme heat. Add pesticides to the list.