Let us briefly take the case of India. Since independence, we have made substantial progress in many spheres of development. But the benefits of growth have been considerably off-set by

environmental degradation. There have, of course, been many positive gains. We have, for example, achieved food security. Yet, this has been achieved by adopting input-intensive agriculture.

In doing so several negatives have emerged in the shape of degraded soils, lowering of water tables, poor water management and adverse impacts that have accompanied the accelerating use of

pesticides and inorganic fertilisers. Similarly, industrial growth, urbanisation and the inexorable demographic pressures have generated more and more of pesticides and inorganic