Global study finds almost half of farmers poisoned by pesticides each year

A Frontiers in Public Health study commissioned by Pesticide Action Network estimates 402–433 million unintentional acute pesticide poisonings among about 934 million farmers annually (≈46%), with the heaviest burden in Southern Asia, South-East Asia and East Africa; Burkina Faso records the highest national incidence (~84%). About 11,000 deaths occur each year, mostly in India. The authors urge immediate action to phase out highly hazardous pesticides, expand access to safer alternatives, and improve surveillance—while noting data gaps on child workers and long-term health effects.