The document summarizes the key points from a speech delivered by the Federal Ministry of Environment of Nigeria at a joint workshop on waste management and land contamination.
The Ministry commends the University of Uyo for organizing the workshop to share information on environmental governance and address national environmental challenges. The workshop exemplifies inclusive partnership between academic and non-academic stakeholders on issues of national importance.
The use of agrochemicals such as fertilizers and pesticides has increased globally to boost agricultural production to meet rising food demands. However, pesticides can persist in the environment and pose health risks. Developing countries like Nigeria face a disproportionate burden from pesticide exposure.
Invasive Alien Plant Species Assessment in Urban Ecosystem: A Case Study from...Surendra Bam
Invasive Alien Species (IAS) are the second most threat to biodiversity after habitat loss and fragmentation. Identifying the non-native species being naturalized in your region is the fundamental step for the upcoming management strategy in future.
Bioremediation of Chlorpyrifos Contaminated Soil by MicroorganismIJEAB
India is agricultural based country where 70% of the population survives on it. In order to increase the production of field various pesticides are used. Chlorpyrifos (O,O-diethyl O-3,5,6-trichloro-2-pyridyl phosphorothioate) is an organophosphate pesticide which is widely used as insecticide for crop protection. But due to its persistent nature into the environment, it is leading to various hazards including neurotoxic effects, cardiovascular diseases and respiratory diseases. Bioremediation is a technology to eliminate chlorpyrifos efficiently from the environment. In bioremediation of chlorpyrifos the potential degradative microorganisms possess opd (organophosphate degrading) gene which hydrolyses the chlorpyrifos and utilizes it as a sole carbon source.Thus the present review discusses about how through bioremediation the pesticide chlorpyrifos can be degraded using potential soil microorganisms.
Invasive Alien Plant Species Assessment in Urban Ecosystem: A Case Study from...Surendra Bam
Invasive Alien Species (IAS) are the second most threat to biodiversity after habitat loss and fragmentation. Identifying the non-native species being naturalized in your region is the fundamental step for the upcoming management strategy in future.
Bioremediation of Chlorpyrifos Contaminated Soil by MicroorganismIJEAB
India is agricultural based country where 70% of the population survives on it. In order to increase the production of field various pesticides are used. Chlorpyrifos (O,O-diethyl O-3,5,6-trichloro-2-pyridyl phosphorothioate) is an organophosphate pesticide which is widely used as insecticide for crop protection. But due to its persistent nature into the environment, it is leading to various hazards including neurotoxic effects, cardiovascular diseases and respiratory diseases. Bioremediation is a technology to eliminate chlorpyrifos efficiently from the environment. In bioremediation of chlorpyrifos the potential degradative microorganisms possess opd (organophosphate degrading) gene which hydrolyses the chlorpyrifos and utilizes it as a sole carbon source.Thus the present review discusses about how through bioremediation the pesticide chlorpyrifos can be degraded using potential soil microorganisms.
Impact of agro-ecosystem on risk management in agriculture in some selected a...Premier Publishers
This definite study was conducted based on the relationship of agro-ecosystem and the income level to judge the risk in farming among the respondents in the study areas. The reason for the study was to clarify the farmers about the risks and uncertainties in farming. Three Upazilas namely Gouripur, Ishwarganj and Haluaghat from Mymensingh district were selected with a view to analyzing the changes of biodiversity and its impact on income diversification. Several indexes like Shannon, richness, evenness, dominance and income diversity index were calculated for the plants, animals etc. to measure the changes among these species and its contribution on income level. The study was conducted in 2014 and the mean income index was found highest (2.15) in Ishwarganj which means the respondents were earning from more than two sources that helped them to reduce risk in farming. Most of the respondents in Ishwarganj were involved in tree plantation, animal rearing, vegetables cultivation or business that lead the highest richness indexes (2.68) and (0.61) in plant and animal rearing than other two areas. The dominance indexes were also found lowest (0.40) and (0.30) respectively that lead to the diversification of enterprises.
Human Wildlife Conflicts to communities surrounding Mikumi National Parks in ...IJEAB
Human wildlife interaction is not a new phenomenon, it has existed since the beginning of humankind, it is evidenced by the fact that, many national parks are surrounded by human residents. The interaction between human and wildlife is of different nature depending on the culture of the surrounding human as well as wildlife community. For decade’s human wildlife conflicts has been a great conservation challenge due to increased human population, international trade and change of policies. The challenge is more significant in a sense that it negatively affects both human and wildlife sustainability. Therefore a study was conducted to villages surrounding Mikumi national Park to assess reasons for conflicts between human and wildlife and account how communities prevent wild animals to destructs their agriculture products. Three villages were selected for study (Doma, Maharaka and Mkata, all villages surrounds Mikumi National Park Ecosystems. Different methodology includes: - Field observation, Household survey, Field interview, In-depth interview and Ethnography study were used. However descriptive analysis and non parametric test were performed by using SPSS 16 versions and Kruskal-wallis test respectively to compute mean, standard error, percentages and differences of wildlife consumption. Results suggests that, there is a gradual increase of human-wildlife conflicts which lead to loss of people’s lives, as well as their livelihoods such as farms and farms product. Statistically results depicted that the average size of the farm affected at Doma, Maharaka and Mkata villages were 3.8 ± 0.1, 2.0 ± 0.1 and 2.2 ± 0.1 acres respectively, while at Mkata village 32 goats, 24 sheep and 76 cattle were reported to be killed by wild carnivores. In other way conflicts may result to poaching activities which may threaten the existence of huge herbivores such as Elephants and Rhinoceros. Apart from that, conflicts may lead to poor performances of tourism industry in the country. Research recommends that more efforts should be taken by the government and other stakeholders to prevent conflicts around all national parks so as to create good and conducive environment for human being life and wildlife in order to allow good performance of tourism industry for economic development of the country.
Earthworms Vermicompost - A Powerful Crop Nutrient over the Conventional Compost & Protective Soil Conditioner; Gardening Guidebook for Australia www.scribd.com/doc/239851313 ~ Griffith University ~ For more information, Please see websites below:
`
Organic Edible Schoolyards & Gardening with Children =
http://scribd.com/doc/239851214 ~
`
Double Food Production from your School Garden with Organic Tech =
http://scribd.com/doc/239851079 ~
`
Free School Gardening Art Posters =
http://scribd.com/doc/239851159 ~
`
Increase Food Production with Companion Planting in your School Garden =
http://scribd.com/doc/239851159 ~
`
Healthy Foods Dramatically Improves Student Academic Success =
http://scribd.com/doc/239851348 ~
`
City Chickens for your Organic School Garden =
http://scribd.com/doc/239850440 ~
`
Huerto Ecológico, Tecnologías Sostenibles, Agricultura Organica
http://scribd.com/doc/239850233
`
Simple Square Foot Gardening for Schools - Teacher Guide =
http://scribd.com/doc/239851110
Impact of agro-ecosystem on risk management in agriculture in some selected a...Premier Publishers
This definite study was conducted based on the relationship of agro-ecosystem and the income level to judge the risk in farming among the respondents in the study areas. The reason for the study was to clarify the farmers about the risks and uncertainties in farming. Three Upazilas namely Gouripur, Ishwarganj and Haluaghat from Mymensingh district were selected with a view to analyzing the changes of biodiversity and its impact on income diversification. Several indexes like Shannon, richness, evenness, dominance and income diversity index were calculated for the plants, animals etc. to measure the changes among these species and its contribution on income level. The study was conducted in 2014 and the mean income index was found highest (2.15) in Ishwarganj which means the respondents were earning from more than two sources that helped them to reduce risk in farming. Most of the respondents in Ishwarganj were involved in tree plantation, animal rearing, vegetables cultivation or business that lead the highest richness indexes (2.68) and (0.61) in plant and animal rearing than other two areas. The dominance indexes were also found lowest (0.40) and (0.30) respectively that lead to the diversification of enterprises.
Human Wildlife Conflicts to communities surrounding Mikumi National Parks in ...IJEAB
Human wildlife interaction is not a new phenomenon, it has existed since the beginning of humankind, it is evidenced by the fact that, many national parks are surrounded by human residents. The interaction between human and wildlife is of different nature depending on the culture of the surrounding human as well as wildlife community. For decade’s human wildlife conflicts has been a great conservation challenge due to increased human population, international trade and change of policies. The challenge is more significant in a sense that it negatively affects both human and wildlife sustainability. Therefore a study was conducted to villages surrounding Mikumi national Park to assess reasons for conflicts between human and wildlife and account how communities prevent wild animals to destructs their agriculture products. Three villages were selected for study (Doma, Maharaka and Mkata, all villages surrounds Mikumi National Park Ecosystems. Different methodology includes: - Field observation, Household survey, Field interview, In-depth interview and Ethnography study were used. However descriptive analysis and non parametric test were performed by using SPSS 16 versions and Kruskal-wallis test respectively to compute mean, standard error, percentages and differences of wildlife consumption. Results suggests that, there is a gradual increase of human-wildlife conflicts which lead to loss of people’s lives, as well as their livelihoods such as farms and farms product. Statistically results depicted that the average size of the farm affected at Doma, Maharaka and Mkata villages were 3.8 ± 0.1, 2.0 ± 0.1 and 2.2 ± 0.1 acres respectively, while at Mkata village 32 goats, 24 sheep and 76 cattle were reported to be killed by wild carnivores. In other way conflicts may result to poaching activities which may threaten the existence of huge herbivores such as Elephants and Rhinoceros. Apart from that, conflicts may lead to poor performances of tourism industry in the country. Research recommends that more efforts should be taken by the government and other stakeholders to prevent conflicts around all national parks so as to create good and conducive environment for human being life and wildlife in order to allow good performance of tourism industry for economic development of the country.
Earthworms Vermicompost - A Powerful Crop Nutrient over the Conventional Compost & Protective Soil Conditioner; Gardening Guidebook for Australia www.scribd.com/doc/239851313 ~ Griffith University ~ For more information, Please see websites below:
`
Organic Edible Schoolyards & Gardening with Children =
http://scribd.com/doc/239851214 ~
`
Double Food Production from your School Garden with Organic Tech =
http://scribd.com/doc/239851079 ~
`
Free School Gardening Art Posters =
http://scribd.com/doc/239851159 ~
`
Increase Food Production with Companion Planting in your School Garden =
http://scribd.com/doc/239851159 ~
`
Healthy Foods Dramatically Improves Student Academic Success =
http://scribd.com/doc/239851348 ~
`
City Chickens for your Organic School Garden =
http://scribd.com/doc/239850440 ~
`
Huerto Ecológico, Tecnologías Sostenibles, Agricultura Organica
http://scribd.com/doc/239850233
`
Simple Square Foot Gardening for Schools - Teacher Guide =
http://scribd.com/doc/239851110
Inhibition of bacterial soft rot (Research Paper)Tony Ng
Bacterial soft rot has caused more crop losses worldwide than any other bacterial disease. Current methods of inhibiting bacterial soft rot, such as using chemicals, proved to be inefficient and not environmentally-friendly. In order to develop a more environmentally-friendly and cost effective product to curb bacterial soft rot, tannic acid and green tea extract were tested for their effectiveness against the plant pathogen and causative agent for soft rot, Pectobacterium carotovorum.
7aConsidering the Hazards of pesticides and its Direct impact on h.pdfankkitextailes
7a
Considering the Hazards of pesticides and its Direct impact on humans there will be increased in
demand on complete elimination of use of synthetic pesticides.
Hazards of pesticides: If the credits of pesticides include enhanced economic potential in terms
of increased production of food and fiber, and amelioration of vector-borne diseases, then their
debits have resulted in serious health implications to man and his environment. There is now
overwhelming evidence that some of these chemicals do pose a potential risk to humans and
other life forms and unwanted side effects to the environment. No segment of the population is
completely protected against exposure to pesticides and the potentially serious health effects,
though a disproportionate burden, is shouldered by the people of developing countries and by
high risk groups in each country. The world-wide deaths and chronic diseases due to pesticide
poisoning number about 1 million per year.
The high risk groups exposed to pesticides include production workers, formulators, sprayers,
mixers, loaders and agricultural farm workers. During manufacture and formulation, the
possibility of hazards may be higher because the processes involved are not risk free. In
industrial settings, workers are at increased risk since they handle various toxic chemicals
including pesticides, raw materials, toxic solvents and inert carriers.
Eliminating pesticides
Many alternatives are available to reduce the effects pesticides have on the environment.
Alternatives include manual removal, applying heat, covering weeds with plastic, placing traps
and lures, removing pest breeding sites, maintaining healthy soils that breed healthy, more
resistant plants, cropping native species that are naturally more resistant to native pests and
supporting biocontrol agents such as birds and other pest predators. In the United States,
conventional pesticide use peaked in 1979, and by 2007, had been reduced by 25 percent from
the 1979 peak level, while US agricultural output increased by 43 percent over the same period.
Biological controls such as resistant plant varieties and the use of pheromones, have been
successful and at times permanently resolve a pest problem.Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
employs chemical use only when other alternatives are ineffective. IPM causes less harm to
humans and the environment. The focus is broader than on a specific pest, considering a range of
pest control alternatives. Biotechnology can also be an innovative way to control pests. Strains
can be genetically modified (GM) to increase their resistance to pests. However the same
techniques can be used to increase pesticide resistance and was employed by Monsanto to create
glyphosate-resistant strains of major crops. In 2010, 70% of all the corn that was planted was
resistant to glyphosate; 78% of cotton, and 93% of all soybeans
7b
According to an organic food advocacy group, the Environmental Working Group, buying
certain organic food can .
Classification and evaluation of pesticides used in Palestine based on their ...Premier Publishers
Use of pesticides is still considered as a major way to protect and increase crop yields in the less developed countries, particularly. Palestine is one of the countries in which agricultural production relies on pesticides. Different studies showed that usage of pesticides in Palestine should be more managed and regulated based on their types, toxicities and persistence in environmental components. This study aims to classify and evaluate pesticides used in Palestine - by studying types used during the period of (2012 – 2015) - based on their severity on environment and health. Data about pesticides including types and annual consumption was obtained from the Ministry of Agriculture. Consumption annual variations were noticed, with highest consumption in 2012. The general trend indicated that herbicides contributed half of the average total consumption, whereas tenth of the used pesticides are classified as extremely and highly hazardous chemicals. In addition, two thirds are found to be persistent compounds in soil and three quarters of the types are persistent in water. Further analytical researches on pesticides residues are needed, which will assist policy makers to reformulate the current pesticides' management and controlling system.
Ahmed Alothman Barr, Regina L ENGL 1110 462015 .docxgalerussel59292
Ahmed Alothman
Barr, Regina L
ENGL 1110
4/6/2015
Knutson, R. A, Taylor, C. R., Pen son, J. B. And Smith, E. G. “Safer Crops by Chemicals”
Associates, College Station, (1990). Retrieved March 2015
Knutson Taylor, Pen non and Smith mentioned that chemicals are hazardous substances
whose objective is to execute Pests. There is a high range of differentiated sorts of chemicals, with
varying uses. Some are extraordinarily intended to murder bugs, while others kick out parasites or
bacteria, some are utilized to execute rodents, and a developing sum is utilized to slaughter weeds.
On the other hand, the vast majority of these chemicals are likewise harmful to Pests as well as to
numerous types of plants and creatures, including people. Little amounts of these chemicals could
slaughter a man, make them sick or reason other long haul wellbeing issues. Pesticides are
chemicals that slaughter bothers (2015).
This article answers one of my research questions. The question asks about why do farmers
use chemicals. Farmers use chemicals to slaughter bugs, infections or weeds that could harm their
harvests, reducing the crop yields. Most agriculturists feel insecure since consumer protection is not
guaranteed when pests strike making the benefits minimized without chemicals. Lower yields are as
a result of low quality as a result of the harm caused by the notorious pests. With them serially
visiting the flourishing crops, there is no guarantee of safety, either on the grounds that they would
have lower yields or their items would have low quality. Worth noting, organic products with a
decent looking smooth skin can be marketed and sold at very impressive higher costs than natural
products with terrible looking and unpleasant skin. Ranchers shower to moderate harvest harm
created by bugs. A vermin is any natural organic entity that poses a threat to human living by
destroying crops and comprises weeds, pathogens, as well as arthropods, which impact greatly on
the quality of yields once meddled with them. Some of the impact felt by the crop yields are
permanent and cannot be reversed; translating to irrecoverable loses borne by customers that are as
a result of high production costs.
Human beings make very important steps and commit much of their energy in their pursuit
to keep the crops free from vermin and related diseases; it is easy to help in crop diseases control by
using crop assurance tools, stunning a range animal weed variety that includes plant maladies and
bugs that harm crops. Ranchers face ultimate tasks to try to keep these difficulties a bay all season,
it matters little whether they are natural or customary. The crop insurance items differ by
environment, topographical area as well as atmosphere, requiring every homestead to be secure in
the range of product items. Pesticides impact greatly where they land, whether on the crops or the
person spraying and the effect may ra.
Presentation from Salman Hussain, United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) describing TEEB Agriculture and Food, a study designed to provide an economic evaluation of the ‘eco-agri-food systems’ complex. The presentation was prepared and delivered in occasion of the International Symposium on Agroecology for Food Security and Nutrition, held at FAO in Rome on 18-19 September 2014.
Relatório ONU denuncia mito de que pesticidas são essenciais para alimentar o...Carol Daemon
Relatório da ONU denuncia “mito” de que pesticidas são essenciais para alimentar o mundo. “É um mito. Usar pesticidas nada tem a ver com acabar com a fome. De acordo com a Organização das Nações Unidas para a Alimentação e a Agricultura (FAO), já conseguimos alimentar 9 mil milhões de pessoas hoje em dia. A produção está definitivamente a aumentar, mas o problema é a pobreza, a desigualdade e a distribuição”, declarou Hilal Elver, relatora especial da ONU para o direito à comida, acrescentando que muitos pesticidas são usados em plantações de produtos como o óleo de palma e não na comida necessária para acabar com a fome.
Influence of fertilizers on incidence and severity of early blight and late b...Innspub Net
The potato (Solanum tuberosum) production in the Far North Region, Cameroon is confronted with, diseases and pests. To improve the production of this plant, a study was carried out in Mouvou and Gouria to evaluate the impact of fertilizers on the development of late blight and early blight diseases of this plant. The experimental design used was a completely randomized block with 4 treatments: Mycorrhizae (MYC), NPK (20-10-10) chemical fertilizers, chicken droppings (CD) and a control (T). The plant material used was a local variety of potato (Dosa). Disease incidence and severity and rainfall were evaluated. Area Under Disease Progress Curve was calculated. At 60 DAS, mean incidences recorded for fertilizers were 5.7, 3.6, 1.8 and 0.8 % respectively for control, MYC, NPK and CD. In general, early blight severity decreased from 22.1% at 45 DAS to 0.3 % at 60 DAS. The highest AUDPC value of late blight at Mouvou site was observed in NPK treatment while potato in CD treatment had the lowest. The lowest AUDPC value of early blight was observed in CD treatment at both sites. AUDSIPC value for late blight was significantly higher in NPK treatment in both sites. The highest value of AUDPSIC of early blight was recorded in MYC treatment, 45 DAS in both sites. The average rainfall was higher in the Gouria site (716.5mm) than in Mouvou site (679 mm). The CD treatment can be recommended to the farmers for the phytosanitary protection of potatoes.
Insect pest diversity of standing crops and traditional pest management in ag...AI Publications
The mountain farming communities of the Garhwal Himalaya rely on a conventional approach to agriculture to meet their subsistence needs. The resilience of local crop varieties plays a significant role in crop productivity in the indigenous agricultural system. In such circumstances, the protection of the crop from insect pests becomes paramount. Traditional ecological knowledge plays a crucial role in safeguarding standing crops from production losses in an environmentally benign and sustainable manner. The investigators in this study have surveyed the Mandakini valley to document the indigenous practices undertaken by the farming folks to protect the crops from pest infestation in the region. These practices are discoursed here and, further, look into the potential of natural predators as bio-control. The findings indicated that pests from the order Coleoptera had the most species, followed by Lepidoptera and Hemiptera. Most of the pests in the study site were serious defoliators, damaging the young foliage of the crops. Some entirely fed upon their roots-stems, while the rest were leaf miners and sapsuckers, thus compromising the overall well-being of the plant. In a developing country like India, there is a lack of reliable data that sheds light on the annual crop losses incurred by these pests. Thus, it becomes pertinent to compute an overall estimate of crop losses at various stages of crop production, from seed storage to post-harvest times.
1. FederalMinistryof Environment
at the
Second UNIYO&GIST JointProgrammeWorkshop,organizedincollaborationwithLancaster
EnvironmentCentre, LancasterUniversity,UK
(LeMeridienIbom Hotel, Uyo,Akwa State, June13 – 16,2016)
Delivered
by
2.
3. O It is with a deep sense of responsibility that I convey the message of
commendation by Federal Ministry of Environment, under the
leadership of Ms. Amina J. Mohamed, to the Vice-Chancellor and
Management of University of Uyo, for organizing this forum on Waste
Management and Land Contamination, at this crucial time of our
national development.
O The Ministry is appreciative of the opportunity proffered by this novel
gathering, to further share information with critical stakeholders and
the general public on its numerous measures targetted at achieving
realistic and meaningful environmental governance, in line with our
national obligations under varying global environmental treaties.
O FMENV promotes participative and coherent policy decision-making and
implementation processes, targetted at addressing environmental
challenges of national priority. Therefore, this gesture is an exemplary
demonstration of inclusive and integrative partnership/synergy between
‘the gown and town’ on issues of national concerns.
4. O Some pundits have postulated that agriculture has no single, simple
origin; but was first prominently practised at the closing of the last
Pleistocene glacial period, or Ice Age (about 11,700 years ago
(Rasmussen, 2015).
O What is not doubtful is that the insatiable human need for food,
medicine, feed, fibres, fuel, clothing, shelters, tools and other
resources necessitated development of processes used to extract
resources from a given area of land, such as systematic raising of
useful plant & animal species and discouraging others.
O Conversely, the aggressive pursuits of drives for meeting rising
human demands for better quality of life, feeding population, feed
the rising human populations, provide feeds for the emergent
industrial and commercial ventures, have in reality been marauded
by checkered challenges of unfertile land, plaguing pest
manifestation in crops and livestock, among others.
4
5. O For instance, it is estimated that about 20-40% of food (standing
crops in the field and stored grains) is lost to pests and also hundreds
of thousands of hectares (Arubi, 2007). There have also recurring
investment losses accruing from poor animal production and farm
yields per hectare, due to poor soil pH or depleted soil nutrients,
among others.
O One humorist once stated that In the wild a plant {or animal} and its
pests are continually coevolving, in a dance of resistance and conquest
that can have no ultimate victor, while another is of the view that if
God had wanted us to share our homes with pests, He would not have
made them so unattractive.
O The foregoing are triggering factors for the invention, production and
application of agrochemicals in the annals of agricultural
development processes.
5
6. O Agrochemicals refer to inorganic fertilizers, soil treatment, pesticides, including
hormones and some chemicals used in animal husbandry, such as antibiotics and
hormones. The function of agrochemicals, therefore, is to manage an agricultural
ecosystem.
O In the wake of green revolution, the use of inorganic fertilizer and pesticides
increased rapidly, to raise crop and animal production, with a view to meeting rising
demands of human population growth.
O Fertilizers may be chemically manufactured (synthetic) or made from organic
materials (living) such as recycled waste animals, manure or compost (decaying
vegetation). Most chemical fertilizers contain varying amount of nitrogen,
phosphorus and potassium which are inorganic (nonliving) nutrients that plants need
to grow. About 138 million metric tons of fertilizers are globally used each year ().
O Crops planted in soil that is either too acidic or too alkaline cannot obtain the proper
nutrients they need to grow from the soil. Acidic soils can be caused by acid rain
(precipitation that contains weak sulphuric acid and nitric acid) and by the use of
certain fertilizers.
O Acidic soil is a serious problem in agriculture i.e. in crop yields. Acidic soils are
neutralized by adding compounds that contain calcium usually in the form of
powdered limestone or crushed mollusk shells (eg snail shells).
O In order to increase the ability of soil to hold water and oxygen materials such as
mulch, livestock manure, sewage sludge or shredded newspapers are added.
FMENV 6
7. O The Food and Agricultural Organization has defined pesticide as any
substance or mixture of substances intended for preventing,
destroying, or controlling any pest, including vectors of human or
animal diseases, unwanted species of plants or animals causing harm
during or otherwise interfering with the production, processing,
storage, transporting or marketing of food, agricultural commodities,
wood and wood products or animal feedstuffs, or substances which
may be administered to animals for the control of insects, arachnids
or other pests in or on their bodies (WAAPP, 2013).
O It also includes substances applied to crops either before or after
harvest to protect the commodity from deterioration during storage
and transport.
O Substantial quantities of pesticides are used in modern agriculture
and annually around 2 to 3 billion kilograms of pesticides are globally
used, at a total cost of about 20 billion U.S. dollars (Mondo, 2014).
7
8. O Drawing from the foregoing, it can be deduced ‘Pest’ is the ‘umbrella’
name for all unwanted living organisms that cause injuries or diseases to
useful animal & plant species. These are arthropod pests (insects, mites
and millipedes), pathogens (viroids, viruses, fungi, algae and
nematodes), vertebrates (rodents and birds), parasitic flowering plants,
and non-parasitic weeds (both annuals and perennials).
O Pesticides are used to eliminate the presence of pests. Depending on
targeted pests, pesticides used in agriculture are categorized as follows:-
Herbicides used to destroy weeds, non-desired plants that interfere
with crops growing;
Fungicides to protect agricultural plants from fungal diseases;
Insecticides to kill insects that eat crops or stored grains and
other pesticides target snails, slugs, mites, rodents, reptiles, among
others.
8
9. O Substantial quantities of pesticides are used in modern agriculture
and annually around 2 to 3 billion kilograms of pesticides are globally
used, at a total cost of about 20 billion U.S. dollars.
O Livestock (eg. cattle, swine and poultry) are either given
agrochemicals in form of antibiotics or by injection or combined with
feed to control infectious diseases and parasites. Various hormones
are regularly administered to increase the growth and productivity of
animals, such as the bovine growth
O Consequently, agrochemicals have remained the main-stay of
agriculture due to their perceived enormous benefits and are
apparently critical for our livelihoods, for our health or for our survival
(borrowing from words of Ban Ki-Moon, 2015).
9
10. O However, most agrochemicals particularly chemical pesticides cause
toxic effects, persist in the environment for years; have potentials to
undergo a variety of transformations to more toxic metabolites, among
others.
O They may exhibit the tendency to travel thousands of kilometres from
where they were used and threaten long-term health and ecology in
ways that were never anticipated or intended.
O No segment of the population is completely protected against
pesticides exposure to and associated serious health effects, though a
disproportionate burden is shouldered by the people of developing
countries, particularly the vulnerable groups (WHO, 2006). The deaths
and chronic diseases due to pesticide poisoning is about 1 million per
year (WHO, 2006).
FMENV 10
11. O Factually, in the realm of agrochemicals management regime, chemical
pesticide-risk burdens have become the focus of growing national and
international concerns, as priority hazardous chemicals. This probably
explains why most people equate agrochemicals with pesticides.
O This paper will concentrate on chemical pesticides due to their
preponderance as a critical agric-input and prominence as subjects of
many Multilateral Environmental Agreements, to which Nigeria is Party.
11
12. O There are documented evidences that when agrochemicals are released
into the air, water or soil, a growing number of people get exposed thereto,
due to their occupations, inherent living conditions, as well as lack of
knowledge regarding safe handling practices (UNDP 2012).
O Pesticide management issues have overbearing implications, which can
only be effectively addressed with multifarious capacity enhancement that
may be burdensome for a developing country like Nigeria to unilaterally
‘shoulder’. This stance was corroborated with UNEP’s finding that put the
cost of POP-Pesticide burden of morbidity among Nigerian peasant farm
workers at five hundred and ninety million, four hundred and eighty
thousand Dollars (USD590.48 million (circa: NGN94.48billion)).
O Such exposed people may carry enough pesticides in their body fats,
accumulating to cause serious health problems, namely: cancer, congenital
defects, damage to central and peripheral nervous systems, dysfunction of
the immune & reproductive systems, shortened lactation in nursing
women, skin disorders such as chloracne, among others.
O Damisa et al., (2007) suggested that women contribution to farm work is as
high as between 60 and 90% of the total farm task performed, which put
them at higher risks than men, due to their biological susceptibility.
12
16. O McGruity (2010) opined that our generation has taken to the cosmetic use
of pesticides and I think, perhaps unwittingly, not fully understanding the
dangers it represents to ourselves and, most importantly, to our children
O Pesticide poisoning incidents are common among handlers who apply
them without adequate safety measures, with attendant burdens of
morbidity and mortality. Pesticide exposure risks usually result from
consumption of contaminated food, chemical accidents in industries and
occupational exposure in agriculture.
O Pesticides are the major causes of cancer, cardiovascular diseases,
dermatitis, birth defects, impaired immune functions, neurobehavioral
disorder and allergy sensitization reaction (Erhunmwunse et al., 2012).
O In 2008, about 120 students who had eaten beans contaminated with
lindane were reported to have presented various acute ailments in
Gombe, while a study conducted revealed a high incidence of pesticide
residues in beans sold in Lagos markets (Ogar, et al., 2013).
16
18. O Furthermore, a stock of cream-white local beans suspected to contain
pesticide-residues was intercepted in 2011 and report of analysis of
representative samples at the National Agency for Food and Drugs
Administration and Control (NAFDAC) laboratory, Kaduna indicated
the presence of 2.31mg/kg Dichlorvos (DDVP), above EU-MRLs. (NIP,
2016)
O In a study conducted by Olufade et al (2014), it was reported that
organochlorine insecticide residues of aldrin, dieldrin, heptachlor,
endrin, chlordane and endosulfan were detected in some samples of
cowpeas and dried yam chips analyzed with highest mean
concentration of aldrin (0.580 ± 0.456 mg/kg) and heptachlor (0.402
mg/kg ± 0.073), suggesting that the foodstuffs were not safe for
human consumption.
FMENV 18
19. O Furthermore, In a survey conducted under the platform of UNEP/WHO
Global Monitoring Programme for Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs),
the human milk samples, obtained from volunteers at Maitama Hospital,
indicated high levels of some POP-pesticides such as Chlordane, Dieldrin,
DDT, Toxaphene, HCH.
O This finding is of critical public/infantile health concern, in view of
Nigerian government’s vigorous campaigns on exclusive breastfeeding of
new-born babies.
O It has been established that many chemicals stored in a woman’s body
are passed onto her child during pregnancy and later through breast-
feeding (CDC 2003). This explains why human milk is a core medium for
determining pesticide exposure (Solomon and Schettler 1999).
20. O The thrusts for intensified quantitative and qualitative agricultural
production, to leverage food security and support Food & Drink
industries, have perennially triggered increased pesticide import
trades and application, for pest/vector control, with attendant
environmental cum public health implications.
O Typical of agrarian developing nations, monumental tons of chemical
pesticides are merchandised in Nigeria, by private and corporate
bodies, including Government, as inputs for various agricultural
programmes.
O However, vast quantities have gone unused, stored under poor
conditions, deteriorated and become obsoleted. These obsolete
pesticides have accumulated throughout the country over the
decades, thereby, threatening the environment and public health.
20
21. O Associated with the foregoing, is the challenge of unsound
management of empty pesticide containers and contaminated
equipment, which are otherwise converted to secondary uses, with
attendant adverse public health and environmental consequences.
O A number of factors have been identified as being responsible for the
accumulation of these pesticides, namely: smuggling of hazardous
pesticides into the countries, improper storage of these pesticides,
lack of disposal facilities, poor stock management, product bans,
mismanagement of pesticides, uncoordinated aid donations, among
others.
O Waste streams arising from pesticide application, namely empty
pesticide containers, disused contaminated spray equipment/tools,
apparels, among others, are hazardous, hence, need be appropriately
disposed of. Specifically., volume of empty pesticide containers being
increasingly generated daily portends dangers to the environment
and human health, if not appropriately addressed.
21
24. O The need to protect man and the environment against
destructive effects of chemical pesticides and associated waste
has consistently been a recurring burning issue on international
development agenda.
O It was against this background that a number of Multilateral
Environmental Agreements (MEAs) have been negotiated,
signed, adopted and ratified by comity of nations, among which
is Nigeria.
O It is to be noted that environmental treaties have interlocking
significances, particularly in the realm of sustainable
development, conservation of environmental resources
(mineral, land, water & energy), reinforcing the natural capital
and entrenching food security & safety.
O A number of MEAs to which Nigeria is a Party, addressing or
adaptable to pesticide control, have been identified and
highlighted in the following table.
FMENV 24
25. Instruments Place and Date of
Signature
Date of Entry
into force
Objective Status of
implementation
African Convention on the Conservation of
Nature and Natural Resources
Algiers 15.09.1968 16.06.1969 To encourage individual and joint action for the conservation, utilization and development of soil, water, flora and fauna
for the present and future welfare of mankind, from an economic, nutritional, scientific, educational, cultural and
aesthetic point of view.
Ratified 07.05.1974
Bamako Convention on the Ban of the Import
into Africa and the Control of Transboundary
Movement and Management of Hazardous
Wastes within Africa
Bamako, 30.01.1991 22.04.1998 To create a framework of obligations to strictly regulate the trans-boundary movement of hazardous wastes to and within
Africa.
Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer Vienna, 22.09.1985 1988 To establish a framework for cooperation, development of policies, and formulation of agreed measures in order to
protect human health and the environment against adverse effects resulting or likely to result from human activities
which modify the ozone layer.
Acceded 21.10.1988
Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete
the Ozone Layer
Montreal,
16.09.1987
01.01.1989 To protect the ozone layer by taking measures to control global emissions of substances that deplete it. Its definitive
objective is the elimination of these materials based on scientific developments, taking into account technical and
economic considerations as well as developmental needs of developing countries.
Acceded 31.10.1988;
London Amendment
Ratified 27.09.2001
Convention Concerning Occupational Safety and
Health and the Working Environment
Geneva 22.06.1981 11.08.1983 To prevent accidents and injury to health by minimizing the causes of hazards inherent in the working environment. Ratified 03.05.1994
Basel Convention on the Control of
Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes
and their Disposal
Basel
22.03.1989
05.05.1992 To ensure that the management of hazardous wastes and other wastes, including their transboundary movement and
disposal, is consistent with the protection of human health and the environment whatever the place of disposal.
Ratified 13.03.1991,
Basel amendment
ratified 24.05.2004
Convention on Biological Diversity Rio de Janeiro,
05.06.1992
21.03.1994 To conserve biological diversity, the sustainable use of its components and the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits
arising out of the utilization of genetic resources, taking into account all rights over those resources.
Ratified 29.08.1994
Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed
Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous
Chemicals and Pesticides on International Trade
Rotterdam, 10.09.1998 24.02.2004 To promote shared responsibility and cooperative efforts among Parties in the international trade of certain hazardous
chemicals in order to protect human health and the environment from potential harm and to contribute to their
environmentally-sound use.
Ratified 28.06.2001
Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic
Pollutants
Stockholm
22.05.2001
17.05.2004 To protect human health and the environment from persistent organic pollutants.
The Convention protects human health from chemicals that remain intact in the environment for long periods, become
widely distributed geographically, accumulate in the fatty tissue of living organisms and are toxic to humans and wildlife
Ratified 24.05.2004
International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources
for Food and Agriculture
Rome, 03.11.2001 29.06.2004 To promote conservation and sustainable use of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture and the fair and
equitable sharing of the benefits arising out of their use, in harmony with the Convention on Biological Diversity, for
sustainable agriculture and food security
Ratified 10.06.2002
Protocol on Biosafety to the Convention on
Biological Diversity (Cartagena Protocol)
Montreal, 29.1.2000 11.09.2003 To ensure an adequate level of protection in safe transfer, handling and use of living modified organisms resulting from
biotechnology that may have adverse effects on the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity, taking also
into account risks to human health, and specifically focusing on transboundary movements.
Ratified 15.07.2003
International Plant Protection Convention Rome
6.12.1951
03.04.1952 To secure common and effective action to prevent the spread and introduction of pests of plants and plant products, and
to promote appropriate measures for their control.
Adhered 17.08.1993
FMENV 25
26. O Nigeria has played a key leadership role in the African region in many
negotiations and processes leading to adoption of many pesticide-relevant
treaties.
O These efforts have been consolidated through ratification or accession of
the MEAs and their internalization through:-
O Implementation of Nigeria-Africa Stockpiles Programme Nigeria-ASP).
O The need for effective clean up of this stockpiled pesticides led to the adoption of
the African Stockpiles Programme, a multi-stakeholder initiative, conceptualized to
be implemented in a number of African countries over a 12-15 year period on a
rolling basis.
O The first phase of ASP covered seven countries, namely: Nigeria, Ethiopia, Mali,
Morocco, South Africa, Tanzania, and Tunisia, with technical support provided by
WB and FAO. Objectives of the Programme were to:-
O clean up stockpiled pesticides and pesticide-contaminated waste in an
environmentally sound manner;
O catalyze the development of measures to prevent future accumulation; and
O provide capacity building and institutional strengthening on important chemicals-
related issues.
O Inventory activities were undertaken nationwide in public-owned pesticide
stores. The following data highlights data collated.
FMENV 26
27. Nigeria-ASP inventory data
Government-owned stores inventoried (holding
agricultural inputs procured under interventional
Projects like ADP, FADAMA, etc.) 305
Number of Inventory and store forms completed 2538
man-hours spent in completing this assignment 8288
Obsolete pesticides 64.94 tons
Pesticides requiring testing 27.757 tons.
Usable pesticides 70.1 tons
Contaminated equipment 14.802 tons
Contaminated soil 66.1 tons
Contaminated and dilapidated stores 68
Stores that require normal safeguarding 65
Stores for emergency safeguarding 1 store in Kano state &
8 stores at Onireke
Ibadan, Oyo state
Empty containers (about 142,233 units) 1.712 tons
FMENV 27
28. O Review and Update of National Implementation Plan (NIP) on
Stockholm Convention.
O This has laid the groundwork for concerted & cohesive policy
thrusts, targetted at addressing POPs-issues of national priority
(including pesticides);
O The project has been implemented with the Global Environment
Facility (GEF) and UNIDO supports ;
O Project planning and implementation have been undertaken with
inclusive participation of sectoral stakeholders, including the
Academia.
O Updated NIP Endorsement Workshop held 17-18 May 2016.
O CEESR represented at the workshop.
FMENV 28
30. O Development of a National Policy on Chemicals Management and
Signing of Memorandum of Understanding amongst line MDAs for
an integrated national framework;
O Development of the Chemical Information Exchange network
(CIEN) website (www.estis.net/sites/cien_ng) as a medium for
disseminating information on safe and sound chemicals
management;
O Promotion of neem derived biopesticides in West Africat.
To promote the use and development of production capacity of eco-
friendly and cost-effective pesticide derived from neem kernels in
three countries of West Africa namely: Ghana, Nigeria and Sierra
Leoneo.
complements the national efforts at eliminating the use of Persistent
Organic Pollutant (POP)-chemicals in the Agricultural sector.
Ahmadu Bello University (Zaria) and Hassan Usman Polytechnic
(Katsina) are technical partners..
30
31. O Pesticides Management that is devoid of risks to man and the
environment is a collective and shared responsibility among critical
sectoral actors, as tabulated below.
O They are a case of everyone benefiting if everyone
participates, and of everyone losing out if only a few do not
participate; the lasting consequences will be felt everywhere
and can be especially damaging to the vulnerable group.
O experiences in other countries years have made us become
familiar with the threats posed by hazardous chemicals like
POPs; hence should trigger us to work together and become
committed to joint action.
FMENV 31
32. Institution Economic Sector Roles in Pesticide Management
State and Federal
Ministries of Environment
Government:
Thematic focal area: Environment
Formulating national environmental policies, including strategies, legal, socio- economic and institutional frameworks for the improvement of environmental
quality and protection of natural resources, including issues related to pollution, chemical risk and hazardous wastes management;
Key players in the risk evaluation and profiling of candidate-alternatives to pesticides, for various applications;
Reporting and communicating research findings and risk profile of candidate alternatives to critical stakeholders.
State and Federal
Ministries of Health
Government:
Thematic focal area: Health
Formulate, disseminate, promotes implement, monitor, and evaluate health policies in Nigeria.
State and Federal
Ministries of Agriculture
and Rural Development
Government:
Thematic focal area: Agriculture
Regulate agricultural researches, agriculture and natural reserves, forestry and veterinary researches.
shall also optimize agriculture and integrate rural development for the transformation of the Nigerian economy with a view to attaining food security
and positioning Nigeria as a net food exporter and socio-economic development.
Major users of crop protection products and pesticides for disease vector control in animal husbandry.
Responsible for undertaking farm extension services such as collection and dissemination of information to farmers on proper use of pesticides and
alternatives thereto.
State and Federal
Ministries of Finance
Government:
Thematic focal area: Financial regulation
general supervision and control of public fund of the federation, including development and contingency fund;
securing and managing the investment flows
processes co-financial obligations under foreign donor-funded project implementation.
National Environmental
Standards and
Regulations Enforcement
Agency (NESREA) and
State EPAs
Government:
Thematic focal area: Environmental
regulations
Parastatals of State & Federal Ministries of Environment, charged with the responsibility of enforcing all national & state environmental laws, guidelines,
policies, standards and regulations.
Standard Organisation of
Nigeria(SON)
Government:
Thematic focal area: Standard
Regulations
SON is a parastatal of the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment (FMITI) and has the responsibility of developing and enforcing standards relating
to products, measurements, materials and processes, certification of industrial products, assistance in the production of quality goods among others.
National Agency for Food
and Drug Administration
and Control (NAFDAC)
Government:
Thematic focal area: Food, drugs & allied
products regulations
NAFDAC is a parastatal under the Federal Ministry of Health which regulates and controls the manufacture, importation, exportation, distribution,
advertisement, sale and use of food, drugs, cosmetics, medical devices and packaged water (known as regulated products) and chemicals.
NAFDAC is a key stakeholder in the chemical import and export control.
Nigeria Customs Service
(NCS)
Government:
Thematic focal area: import & export
control
The Nigeria Customs Service is responsible for prevention and suppression of smuggling. It also performs collaborative function with sister regulatory bodies in
combating importation of toxic and hazardous substances (including wastes), illegal commercial activities and trade in illicit goods (such as obsolete or banned
chemicals), among others.
NCS maintains a database on import and export trades based on Automated System for Customs Data (ASYCUDA++) platform. ASYCUDA is computerised
customs management system which covers most foreign trade procedures and generates trade data that can be used for statistical economic analysis (UNCTAD,
2016).
Manufacturers
Association of
Nigeria(MAN)
Industry:
Thematic focal area: manufacturing
MAN is the umbrella body for Manufacturers of locally produced commodities, including chemicals and allied products. The group is segmented into various
subsector such as Food, Beverages & Tobacco subsector; Chemicals & Pharmaceuticals sub-sectors, among others
Academia and Research
institutes
Government /private thematic focal
area: Research and Capacity
development
Academia and research institutes have comparative advantages in research-related services, technology transfer and capacity building, chemical risk
assessments, development of safer alternatives to hazardous chemical pesticides, technical supports on national implementation of environmental treaties,
policy actions, among others.
Civil Society Organisations
(including Farmers
associations)
Non-Governmental Organization
thematic focal area: advocacy and
technical support
CSOs are non-state actors that complement the work of state actors (government) in the areas of public enlightenment and educational programme on
chemical risk prevention, promotes transparency and accountability in policy formulation and implementation: General policy discussions, project designs,
implementation and monitoring. The group includes NGOs, gender group, labour, among others.
States and Federal
Ministry of Information
and Culture
Government thematic focal area: raising
awareness and promoting information
and culture.
The Ministry is responsible for the management of the image, reputation and promotion of the culture of the people and Government of Nigeria, through a
dynamic Public Information System that facilitate access by the citizens and the global community to credible and timely information about our nation.
The Ministry, by itself or through its Agencies, is the lead organisation for disseminating information to the public on development initiatives and policy
frameworks on environment, in general.
32
33. O Information networking among stakeholders is necessary for entrenching
sound pesticide management.
O Maintenance of safety procedures in the life cycle management of
pesticides, including standard warehousing, protected handling, field
application by trained extension officers, among others.
O Capacity strengthening of crop protection and veterinary officers to
adopt sound pesticide management.
O Adoption of Good Agricultural Practices, namely: crop rotation, crop
removal & the selective removal and destruction of infested plant,
removal a& destruction of post harvest plant debris, among others.
O Promotion of integrated pest management (IPM). IPM is the careful
consideration of all available pest control techniques, and subsequent
integration of appropriate measures that discourage the development of
pest populations and keep pesticides and other interventions to levels
that are economically justified and reduce or minimize risks to human
health and the environment.
O Institutional collaboration & coordination in the development of safer,
technical feasible, accessible and affordable alternatives.
FMENV 33
34. O The use of agrochemicals has, historically, been critical to the
bumper growth of crops and livestock production.
O However, some of these chemicals cause substantial public health,
environmental and ecological damage, thereby greatly reducing
their benefits.
O Burdens of agrochemicals have attracted global and national
concerns, which have triggered interventional actions that need be
effectively internalized and sustained.
O Stakeholders’ collective and shared responsibilities are critical to
addressing the menace of agrochemicals application in Nigeria.
FMENV 34
36. Reference.
O FMENV(2016): National Implementation Plan (NIP) for POPs
Management.
O UNEP (2013): Costs of Inaction on the Sound Management of
Chemicals
O Kusum Nair (2015): Origins of agriculture
O Patrici chapppine (2014): The Agricultural Revolution:
Timeline, Causes, Inventions & Effects
O FMENV(2010): Nigeria-Africa Stockpiles Programme Progress
Report.
O UNEP (2010): Ridding the world of POPs: A guide to the
Stockholm Convention On Persistent Organic Pollutants.
O UNEP(2010): Stockholm Convention On Persistent Organic
Pollutants (amended text).
FMENV 36