What are pesticides?

Pesticides are agrochemicals that are used for crop protection. A pesticide is a substance intended to prevent, destroy, repel or control any animal pest or disease caused by microorganisms, as well as unwanted weeds. Pesticides can also be used as vector control and agriculture control agent in public health programmes. The group includes herbicides, insecticides, and fungicides. Pesticides may be used for crops on the field, harvested produce, agricultural commodities or animal feeds and fish and 2.1% of pesticides used in the world come from Africa.