Introduction NORWOOD C. T H O R N T O N
Downloaded by 80.82.77.83 on May 30, 2018 | https://pubs.acs.org Publication Date: January 1, 1955 | doi: 10.1021/ba-1955-0013.ch001
Division of Tropical Research, United Fruit Co., La Lima, Honduras
T h e growing world population requires an ever-increasing dependable supply of essentials for living. A g r i c u l t u r a l development of tropical lands has been on the increase for decades. However, only i n relatively recent years has intensive a g r i c u l t u r a l development of these lands become so important. Pest control of small agricultural developments has not been economically feasible, because of a milpa or roving agriculture carried on by individuals. A l l of this is changing with greater demand for food, higher costs of production, and transportation developments within tropical countries. Intensive agriculture is developing, and with this crop pests are becoming a growing problem because of concentrated acreages and the need for more economical production. Pest control is an old problem in the tropics as well as i n other parts of the world. However, many well recognized factors such as supply, demand, distribution, and finances have limited the use of pesticides. Recently this has changed. T h e assistance programs, recognition of need for agricultural development by tropical n a tions, pioneering instinct on the p a r t of many individuals, further development by foreign capital, and desire of chemical industry to develop foreign markets has contributed to the changes. The need for pest control in tropical crops is definitely on the increase, and this is brought out in the papers of this symposium. These by no means cover this i m portant subject. Omission of discussion of many crops from this program does not depreciate their importance, but time does not allow their inclusion. Literature on pesticide control of tropical crops is accumulating in many scattered publications—for example, tea culture has been adequately covered by L a m b and others in World Crops for M a y 1954. It is hoped that this symposium will pave the way for future discussions of this important subject. Pest control i n tropical agriculture is a challenge to both the scientist and the manufacturing chemist.
PESTICIDES IN TROPICAL AGRICULTURE Advances in Chemistry; American Chemical Society: Washington, DC, 1955.
