Sustainable use of plant protection products in Nigeria and challenges

Abstract

Nigeria’s drive to boost food security and to fight off insect pests and yield-limiting crop pathogens has led to an 
unintended consequence: the mass importation and build-up of obsolete and toxic pesticides. Nigerian farmers 
have been relying heavily on these agrochemicals for the control of various weeds, insect pests and pathogens, 
leading to the high importation of these products. Although synthetic-chemical pesticides can be used to control 
some pests economically, rapidly and effectively; most of them cause serious negative impacts to the 
ecosystem. This paper highlights the need to improve the sustainability of the use of plant protection products. 
This can be achieved by integrating existing plant protection measures (chemical, mechanical, physical, 
biological, host-plant resistance, use of pheromones, cultural, etc.) under the framework of what is termed 
Integrated Pest Management (IPM) while identifying, advocating for and promoting the use of botanical 
pesticides in the pest management process.