Nigerian farmers still using banned toxic pesticides despite health and environmental risks

In the fertile farmlands surrounding Lagos, Nigeria, a troubling reality persists beneath the surface of seemingly productive agriculture. Farmers like Joe, who has worked the same land for over two decades, continue to rely on dangerous organochlorine pesticides that have been officially banned for years due to their severe environmental and health impacts.

Joe’s journey into pesticide dependency began with a devastating crop failure. When aphids and caterpillars destroyed his entire African basil harvest, he faced total financial loss as the infested produce became unsellable. Desperate to protect his livelihood, he turned to chemical pesticides as what seemed like the only viable solution. However, the pesticides he now depends on are part of a class of organochlorine compounds that have been linked to serious soil degradation and environmental contamination.

This situation reflects a broader crisis across Nigerian agriculture, where farmers caught between pest pressures and economic survival continue using prohibited substances. The persistence of these banned pesticides highlights the gap between policy and practice, as well as the urgent need for accessible, sustainable pest management alternatives. Without proper support and education about safer farming methods, farmers like Joe remain trapped in a cycle that threatens both their health and the long-term viability of Nigeria’s agricultural lands.

The story underscores the complex challenges facing developing nations in transitioning away from harmful agricultural chemicals while ensuring food security and farmer livelihoods.