Irrigation increases food supply by allowing more land to be farmed and double cropping, but can increase water-borne pests and diseases. Chemicals like fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides also boost yields by improving soil nutrients and controlling pests and weeds, but excessive use damages the environment as runoff pollutes water and harms ecosystems beyond farmed areas. While irrigation and chemicals can increase food, they must be used in moderation to avoid environmental damage.

1. ‘Irrigation and use of chemicals may increase food supply but damage the
environment.’
How far do you agree with this statement? Support your answer using
evidence.
I agree to this statement to a certain extent. Irrigation allows greater areas of
land to be farmed as the farmers are no longer reliant on rainfall. For example, the
land that was once desert in Egypt now grows crop with water from Aswan Dam.
Irrigated land also allow farmers to practice double cropping and this will produce
more yields.
However, there is an increased risk of water-borne pests or diseases in
irrigated areas for example, mosquitos will breed in stagnant water.
Use of chemicals such as fertilisers, pesticides and herbicides also increase
food supply. Fertilisers increase the nutrients of the soil and improve yields.
Pesticides kill pests and reduce the loss of crops to the pests. Herbicides kill weeds
that otherwise compete with the crops for sunlight and nutrients.
However, excessive use of the chemicals will have extensive damage to the
environment. Runoff-of pesticides and herbicides may damage water supplies and
kill insects/plants beyond farmed land. This will damage the ecological system. 23%
of water supply for USA comes from groundwater sources.
Irrigation and use of chemicals may increase food supply but it should always
be used in moderation as excessive use will always lead to damage of the
environment.