A presentation delivered at the Small-Scale Women Farmers Organization in Nigeria (SWOFON) Annual National Forum 29th - 30th November 2021. Raising awareness on Harmful Pesticides and how smallholder women farmers can protect themselves - shift away

1. Harmful Pesticides And
How Smallholder Women
Farmers Can Protect
Themselves.

2. Outline of Presentation
 What is pesticide & the need to reduce dependence on them,
 Impact of pesticides
 Bitter Harvest: Real Story from Nigerian farms to German Labs – Time Magazine (subscriber Exclusive)
 Survey Findings on pesticide use and regulation in Nigeria
 Facts on Safe Use of HHP in Developing Countries – Deception!
 Double Standard and Unheeding minds: EU export of their ban pesticide to poor countries and her rejection of
the grown outcome.
 Recommendations: reconciling with Nature’s Manual
 The Evidence of Zero Chemicals (Photos from slide 23 – 35)
 Thank you
 Appendix: EU – Nigeria List of Ban Pesticide (Call to Bridge the Gap)
 Reference.

3. What is Pesticide and Why Should we Reduce our Dependence on Them?
 Pesticides (from Latin pestis = pestilence, -cida = -killing). Pesticides helped to double wheat
production worldwide between 1969 and 2007. A substance made by humans to take and give life,
it penetrates the smallest particles of the organism of both plants and insects. Often the scientist
themselves are not yet fully aware of exactly how they kill.
 "Chemical fertilizers and pesticides may be suitable for plants for a while. At first, yields will
start to increase a lot. The problem is that in the end they kill the micro-organisms that plants,
crops, need to grow. So the soils get poorer and in the long run, they'll end up being less and less
productive,"
 Women are the main drivers of agriculture in Nigeria and maybe the World, but due to unawareness
of pesticide risks, the unavailability and unaffordability of personal protection for pesticides and
poor knowledge of organic and agroecological practices, they typically depend on pesticide and
suffer the risk associated with its use.
 Worldwide, the number of pesticide poisonings is increasing dramatically. The World Health
Organization estimates that 385 million farmers fell victim to acute poisoning in 2019 –
most of them in Asia and Africa. Of the total of 860 million farmers worldwide, almost half are
poisoned each year.

6.  In 2008 Bekwarra LGA of Cross River State, 122 people suffered from food poisoning due to ingestion of moi-moi
and beans with high pesticide residue. A total of 112 people were hospitalised and the deaths of two children were
recorded. Nigeria’s National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) then banned the sale
and supply of 30 agrochemical products in 2008. The then Director General of NAFDAC Dr. Dora Akunyili, said that the
ban became necessary when it was discovered that the pesticides were causing food poisoning that had resulted in
multiple deaths after consumers had eaten food crops with high levels the chemicals.
 In January 2020, the people of Oye-Obi in Benue State began to die from a mysterious disease. The mass deaths
continued for almost four months, and 273 residents of the village lost their lives. A conspicuous number of
children and young people were among them. Unofficially, however, doctors who were members of the commission
said –We suspect that the people died from very high pesticide concentrations in the river, their only source of
drinking water.
The Oyongo River is the source of the water with which many people fatally poisoned themselves. © Andy Spyra

7.  1) Bauchi. The pesticide that the small farmers suffered from, product name Butashi, with the active
ingredient butachlor, is suspected of being carcinogenic.
 2) Oye-Obi. No findings in the river water, possibly because little spraying took place during the period
research was conducted. Wax of a wild honeycomb in which insecticides accumulate: Imidacloprid from
Bayer WAS discovered. The active ingredient triggers diarrhea and vomiting in cases of acute poisoning.
Imidacloprid is no longer permitted in the EU.
In samples of fish, dried food, massively elevated levels of Endosulfan, an insecticide was present. This has
been banned in Germany since 1991. May cause developmental disorders in fetuses. Developed and
manufactured by Bayer until 2007, since then it has been produced by other companies in India.
 3) Gyawana. Wax of a wild honeycomb: high levels of Dichlorvos, insecticide, damaging to reproduction,
possibly carcinogenic. Dichlorvos is Banned in the EU. High levels of imidacloprid, evidence of atrazine,
butachlor and pendimethalin were found in a water sample from a private well in the village: unremarkable.
Water from the canal the village uses for washing and bathing and which supplies the drinking water wells of
20,000 people via groundwater as high levels of atrazine. Atrazine is a herbicide that is believed to cause
miscarriages and reduce fertility, possibly carcinogenic.
Lab results from samples collected from Nigeria and analyses in a German Laboratory

8. More Findings: Survey on Pesticide Use and Regulation in
Nigeria.
https://ng.boell.org/en/2021/02/17/time-detox-
agriculture
https://ng.boell.org/en/2021/11/01/time-detox-
agriculture

10. Nigeria has adopted the European Union’s standard of maximum residue levels (MRLs)
tolerated in or on food. However, it is widely recognized that the country has trouble
adhering to these, which directly impacts its export opportunities.
60% percent of the pesticides (e.g. atrazine, carbofuran,
diazinon) detected in the vegetables have been
withdrawn from sale in Europe. This is partly due to the
adoption of stricter regulations during the last two
decades.

11. Human health threat in Nigerian Market
 25% of registered pesticide products in Nigeria have been proven to be carcinogenic (that promotes
carcinogenesis, the formation of cancer. This may be due to the ability to damage the genome or to the disruption of cellular metabolic
processes.),
 63 to be mutagenic (it can permanently changes genetic material, usually DNA, in an organism and thus increases the frequency
of mutations above the natural background level),
 47 are endocrine-disrupting chemicals (Endocrine disruptors, sometimes also referred to as hormonally active agents,
endocrine disrupting chemicals, or endocrine disrupting compounds are chemicals that can interfere with endocrine systems. These
disruptions can cause cancerous tumors, birth defects, and other developmental disorders),
 262 products show neurotoxicity (when the exposure to natural or manmade toxic substances (neurotoxicants) alters the normal
activity of the nervous system. This can eventually disrupt or even kill neurons, key cells that transmit and process signals in the brain and
other parts of the nervous system) and
 244 show clear effects on reproduction.
Number of products showing the probability of chronic health effects according to the classification in Table 1, based on PPDB data.

18. NAFDAC List of Ban Pesticides: A Call for Updating Majorly Use Pesticide/Active Ingredients Used in
Nigeria, but Banned/Withdrawn in EU
Atrazine,
Butashi/butachlor
Carbofuran,
Chlorpyrifos
Diazinon
Dichlorvos
1,3-dichloropropene
Endosulfan
Glysophate***
Imidacloprid
Mancozeb
Pendimethalin
Paraquat, etc.
See full appendix of EU list of Ban pesticide - 2019 (with those
of Nigeria highlighted in green

19. FACT SAFE USE of Highly Hazardous Pesticide among small holder farmers in developing countries
(knowing the social, economic and political realities of individuals, households, society and
countries) makes PESTICIDE SAFETY messages deceptive, a fallacy, an illusion, & a trade lie from
pesticide companies, pesticide traders, pesticide promoters and pesticide exporting Countries.
Not
Available
Available

20. DOUBLE STANDARD & UNHEEDING MINDS: Pesticides Ban in EU & USA are exported to Africa and other Developing
Nations: Food export from Nigeria to EU & USA is rejected due to Pesticide.
CLICK LINE - https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/sep/10/toxic-
pesticides-banned-for-eu-use-exported-from-uk

21. Recommendations: what SHWF can do ?
 Farmers & Advisers: Training & awareness creation about Highly Hazardous Pesticides
 Impact
 Mitigation measures
 Shift to the use of nature based alternative farm methods; training on organic traditional methods of
pest controls, use of bio-pesticide, use and promotion of agroecology – multiple farming.
 Connect to agroecology and organic farm practitioners within and outside your locality to build
knowledge of these nature based solution for better knowledge and training of members.
 Call on the government and agricultural credit facility providers to provide your members bio-
pesticide in place of synthetic pesticides, and provide training on agroecology and organic
agriculture.
 Consumers: Awareness creation of pesticides in food – Monitoring programmes
 Challenge promoters of pesticide, manufactures, dealers, extension workers to provide full
protective equipment required in the application of pesticide as they are scarcely available and
expensive. Also challenge them on the cost of compensation from the use of their product on your
health and the health of the farm land that diminishes overtime as the chemicals are used.

22. Switch to Agroecology: 100% Pesticide Free Food Sustainability is Real
 Agroecology/agroforestry can solve most of Nigeria's socioeconomic and environmental problems
from their roots causes. It can ensure the regeneration of the natural ecosystem systems (i.e. CO2
sink, improve ground water levels. etc), ensure higher productivity/income for both farmers and
herders, it can provide constant income/ and new jobs for generations. It can stimulate and sustain
rural development. It can ensure the full restoration of our natural biodiversity, ensure more higher
productivity/land use efficiency per hectare of land compared to an agricultural system based on
chemicals and monoculture. From large scale agro-farms to small subsistent farms and kitchen
gardens, agroecology guarantees higher returns on investment, increase assets in hands of farmers
and all year harvest for households.
 THE YANGOJE FARM IS AN EVIDENCE OF ALL OF THIS IN PRACTICE, NOT THEORY.
 Reproduction is the key to upscaling agroecology/agroforestry in a fast and economically feasible
way without huge investments.
 At least 99.9% of the farm inputs are generated on the farm. No chemical fertilizers
or pesticides are used on the farm. The farm operates a circular ecosystem
system with zero waste; returning more into nature, than taking out.
 Visit the Yangoje Agroecology farm in Kwali abuja

23. No chemical fertilizers
or pesticides are used
on the farm.

29. No chemical fertilizers or pesticides are used on the farm.

36. Thank you

37. Appendix

38. Substance Use limitation
Regulation/Directive (Regulatory Decision excluding
substance from Annex I of Directive 91/414)
Acephate Ban 03/219/EEC
1,2-Dibromoethane Ban 79/117/EEC
1,2-Dichloroethane Ban 79/117/EEC
8-Hydroxyquinokine Ban Voted out 04/04/2006
Alachlor Ban Voted out 04/04/2006
Alanycarb Ban Incomplete dossier
Aldicarb Ban 03/199/EC
Aldrin Ban and export ban 79/117/EEC (1991) + 850/2004 (1)
Alkyl mercury compounds Ban 79/117/EEC
Alkyloxyl and aryl mercury compounds Ban 79/117/EEC
Amitraz Severe restriction 775/2004 (04/247)
Ammonium sulphamate Ban Votes out 04/04/2006
Atrazine Ban 04/247/EC
Azafenidin Ban 02/949/EC
Azamethiphos Ban 02/949/EC
Azinphos ethyl Ban 95/276/EC
Binapacryl Ban 79/117/EEC (1991)
Camphechlor Ban 79/117/EEC
Captafol Ban 79/117/EEC (1991)
Carbaryl Ban Voted out 29/09/2006
Chlordane Ban and export ban 79/117/EEC (1981) + 850/2004
Chlorfenapyr Severe restriction 01/697/EC
Chlorfenprop Ban 01/697/EC
Chlozolinate Ban 00/626/EC
Choline, K and Na salts of makeic acid Ban 79/117/EEC
Cresylic cid Ban 2005/303/EC
Cyhalothrin Ban 94/643/EC
DDT Ban and export ban 79/117/EEC (1986) + 850/2004
Diazinon Ban Voted out 29/09/2006
Dichlorvos Ban Voted out 29/09/2006
Dicofol containing more than 78% p,p*-Dicofol or 1 g/kg of DDT and DDT related
compounds
Severe restriction 79/117/EEC (1991)
Dieldrin Ban and export ban 79/117/EEC (1981) + 850/2004
Dimethenamide Ban Voted out 23/05/2006
Dinoseb, its acetate and salts Ban 79/117/EEC (1991)
Dinoterb Ban Noted in 304/2003 (98/269)
Endosulfan Ban 05/864/EC
Endrin Ban and export ban 79/117/EEC (1991) + 850/2004
Ethylene oxide Ban 79/117/EEC (86/355)
Fenitrothion Ban Voted out 14/07/2006
Fenthion Severe restriction 775/2004 (04/140)
Fentin acetate Ban Noted in 304/2003 (02/478)
Fentin hydroxide Ban Noted in 304/2003 (02/479)
Fenvalerate Ban Noted in 304/2003 (98/270)
Ferbam Ban Noted in 304/2003 (95/276)
Flusulfamide Ban Application withdrawn
HCH containing less than 99.0% of the gamma isomer Ban 79/117/EEC (1981)
Heptachlor Ban and export ban 79/117/EEC (1984) + 850/2004
Hexachlorobenzene Ban and export ban 79/117/EEC (1981) + 850/2004
Hexaconazole Ban Voted out 04/04/2006
Imazamethabenz Ban 2005/303/EC
Kasugamycin Ban 2005/303/EC
Lindane (gamma-HCH) Ban Noted in 304/2003 (00/801/EC)
Malathion Ban Voted out 29/09/2006
Pesticides banned or
severely restricted in the
European Union
Mefluidide Ban 2004/401/EC
Mephospholan Ban 2004/401/EC
Mercuric oxide Ban 79/117/EEC
Mercurous chloride Ban 79/117/EEC
Metalaxyl Ban 03/308/EC
Methabenzthiazuron Ban 2006/302
Monolinuron Ban 00/234/EC
Naled Ban 2005/788
Nitrofen Ban 79/117/EEC (1988)
Other inorganic mercury compouds Ban 79/117/EEC
Oxydemeton-methyl Ban Voted out 29/09/2006
Parathion-ethyl Severe restriction Noted in 304/2003 (01/520)
Parathion methyl (methyl parathion) Severe restriction Noted in 304/2003 (03/166)
p-Chloronitrobenzene Ban 03/166/EEC
Permethrin Ban Noted in 304/2003 (00/817)
Phosalone Ban Voted out 14/07/2006
Polyoxin Ban 2005/303/EC
Propham Ban Noted in 304/2003 (96/586)
Pyrazophos Ban Noted in 304/2003 (00/233)
Pyradafol Ban Application withdrawn
Quintozene Ban 79/117/EEC (1991) (00/816)
Sodium tethrathiocarbonate Ban Voted out 04/04/2006
Tecnazene Ban Noted in 304/2003 (00/725)
Temephos Ban 00/725/EC
Thiodicarb Ban Voted out 14/07/2006
Zineb Ban Voted out 29/09/2006
Zucchini yellow mosaic virus Ban Application withdrawn
Substance Use limitation
Regulation/Directive (Regulatory Decision
excluding substance from Annex I of
Directive 91/414)
Source: EU DG Health and Consumer Protection
Maleic hydrazide and its salts, other than choline, potassium
and sodium salts; choline, potassium and of sodium salts maleic
hydrazide containing more than 1 mg/kg of free hydrazine
expressed on the basis of the acid equivalent
Ban 79/117/EEC (1991)

39. Substance Type Decision date Decision on essential use
Alkyltrimethylbenzyl ammonium
chloride
HB Out 7/03 essential use 2076/2002
2-Aminobutane (aka sec-
butylamine)
FU Out 7/03 essential use 2076/2002
4-CPA (4-chlorophenoxyaceticacid
= PCPA)
PG Out 7/03 essential use 2076/2002
Acifluorfen HB Out 7/03 essential use 2076/2002
Anthracene oil IN,AC,HB,RO Out 7/03 essential use 2076/2002
Atrazine HB Out 10/04 essential use 835/2004, 04/247
Azaconazole IN,FU Out 7/03 essential use 835/2004, 2076/2002
Benfuresate HB Out 7/03 essential use 2076/2002
Benomyl FU Out 05/03
derogation HU (771/2004) essential use 835/04,
02/928
Bensultap IN Out 7/03 essential use 835/04, 2076/2002
Bromacil HB Out 7/03 essential use 2076/2002
Bromopropylate AC Out 7/03 essential use 835/04, 2076/2002
Butylate HB Out 07/03 derogation HU (771/2004) essential use 2076/2002
Calcium hydroxide (aka slake lime) Out 7/03 essential use 2076/2002
Cartap IN Out 7/03 essential use 2076/2002
Chinomethionat (aka
quinomethionate)
AC,FU Out 7/03 essential use 2076/2002
Chlorfenvinphos IN Out 7/03 essential use 835/04, 2076/2002
Cyanazine HB Out 7/03 essential use 835/04, 2076/2002
Cycloate HB Out 07/03
derogation HU (771/2004)
essential use 835/04, 2076/2002
Dalapon HB Out 7/03 essential use 2076/2002
Dichlorprop HB Out 7/03 essential use 835/04, 2076/2002
Dikegulac PG Out 7/03 essential use 2076/2002
Pesticides withdrawn from the
EU with "essential use"
derogations
Source: DG Health and Consumer Protection, Pesticide Safety Directorate
Dimefuron HB Out 7/03 essential use 2076/2002
Dinobuton AC,FU Out 7/03 essential use 2076/2002
Disodium octaborate tetrahydrate HB Out 7/03 essential use 2076/2002
EPTC (ethyl dipropylthiocarbamate) HB Out 07/03 derogation HU (771/2004) 2076/2002
Ethion (aka diethion) IN,AC Out 7/03 essential use 2076/2002
Fenpropathrin IN,AC Out 7/03 essential use 2076/2002
Fenuron HB Out 7/03 essential use 2076/2002
Flumethralin PG Out 7/03 essential use 2076/2002
Fomesafen HB Out 7/03 essential use 2076/2002
Fosamine E Out 7/03 essential use 2076/2002
Furalaxyl FU Out 7/03 essential use 2076/2002
Furathiocarb IN Out 7/03 essential use 835/04, 2076/2002
Haloxyfop HB Out 7/03 essential use 2076/2002
Heptenophos IN Out 7/03 essential use 2076/2002
Hexazinone HB Out 7/03 essential use 835/04, 2076/2002
Imazapyr HB Out 7/03 essential use 835/04, 2076/2002
Iminoctadine FU Out 7/03 essential use 835/04, 2076/2002
Mepronil FU Out 7/03 essential use 2076/2002
Methidathion IN,AC Out 12/04 essential use 835/04, 2004/129
Metobromuron HB Out 7/03 essential use 2076/2002
Metoxuron HB Out 7/03 essential use 2076/2002
Naptalam HB Out 7/03 essential use 835/04, 2076/2002
Omethoate IN,AC Out 7/03 essential use 2076/2002
Orbencarb HB Out 7/03 essential use 2076/2002
Oxadixyl FU Out 7/03 essential use 2076/2002
Oxine-copper FU Out 7/03 essential use 835/04, 2076/2002
Oxycarboxin FU Out 7/03 essential use 835/04, 2076/2002
Pebulate HB Out 7/03 essential use 2076/2002
Pentanochlor HB Out 7/03 essential use 2076/2002
Prometryne HB Out 7/03 essential use 835/04, 2076/2002
Pyridafenthion IN,AC Out 7/03 essential 2076/2002
Resmethrin IN Out 7/03 essential use 2076/2002
Rock powder Out 7/03 essential use 2076/2002
Sethoxydim HB Out 7/03 essential use 2076/2002
Silver nitrate PG,FU Out 7/03 essential use 2076/2002
Simazine HB Out 10/04 essential use 835/2004, 04/247
Sodium dimethylarsinate RO Out 7/03 essential use 2076/2002
Sodium monochloroacetate HB Out 7/03 essential use 2076/2002
Sulfotep IN,AC Out 7/03 essential use 2076/2002
Tar acids IN Out 7/03 essential use 2076/2002
Temephos IN Out 7/03 essential 2076/2002
Terbacil HB Out 7/03 essential use 835/04, 2076/2002
Terbufos IN Out 7/03 essential use 835/04, 2076/2002
Terbutryn HB Out 7/03 essential use 835/04, 2076/2002
Tetradifon AC,IN Out 7/03 essential use 2076/2002
Thiocyclam IN Out 7/03 essential use 835/04, 2076/2002
Triazophos IN,AC Out 7/03 essential use 2076/2002
Triforine FU,AC Out 7/03 essential use 835/04, 2076/2002
Substance Type Decision date Decision on essential use

40. Reference
 Agriculture in Nigeria: Bitter Harvest. TIME MAGAZINE NO. 23/2021 JUNE 1, 2021 (SUBSCRIBERS EXCLUSIVELY)
 Beyound Pesticides (2021): Pesticide-Induced Diseases: Sexual and Reproductive Dysfunction.
https://www.beyondpesticides.org/resources/pesticide-induced-diseases-database/sexual-and-reproductive-
dysfunction
 EU Pesticides Database (2021) https://ec.europa.eu/food/plants/pesticides/eu-pesticides-database_en
 Rainforest Alliance - LIST OF BANNED PESTICIDES AND PESTICIDES WATCHLIST (Version 1.0): utz.org
 Time for a “Detox” in Agriculture: Pesticide Use in Four States in Nigeria. Published by: Heinrich Böll Foundation
Abuja Office in collaboration with Trade Network Initiative Release date: October 2021
 Time for a “Detox” in Agriculture: Challenges of Pesticide Use and Regulation in Nigeria and Possible Solutions.
Published by: Heinrich Böll Foundation Abuja Office Release date: December 2020
 THE REPORT: Tour to Yangoji Agroecological Farm in Kwali Abuja. Pathways towards Sustainable Agriculture in
Nigeria Date: 30 July 2021
 Presentations from Dr Silke Bollmohr - Lead Scientist & Managing Director at EcoTrac Consulting
 Presentations from Mr Roland Frutig, Co-initiator of the Project, Be the Help Foundation - Agroforestry Training
Center, Kwali- Abuja.