Acute pesticide poisoning has become a major public health problem worldwide, following the intensification of agriculture & the promotion of agrochemicals in low- & middle-income countries, with more than 300,000 deaths each year. The easy availability of pesticides in the homes of farming communities has made them the preferred means of suicide with an extremely high case fatality. Similarly, the extensive use of pesticides exposes the community to both long-term & acute occupational health problems. A concerted effort is urgently needed to address the situation. (10 refs.)