Donald Ikenna Ofoegbu, Programme Manager for Sustainable Nigeria at the Heinrich Böll Foundation, has raised concerns about a severe crisis of pesticide over-reliance. 

Ofoegbu noted that Nigerian agriculture is suffering from shrinking and degrading land due to climate change, which has resulted in flooding, erosion, desertification, and drought. 

Additional challenges include widespread deforestation, artisanal mining, and violent farmland conflicts.

In his report, “Pesticide in Nigeria & Prospect of Agroecology in 2050,” he noted that approximately 90% of Nigerian farmers rely on chemical pesticides, with over 50% using Highly Hazardous Pesticides (HHPs), most of which are banned in Europe due to toxicity.

The consequences of this chemical dependence are dire, leading to increased fatalities, loss of biodiversity, declining indigenous species, and a rise in chronic health issues. Ofoegbu pointed out that over 76% of Nigeria’s food exports face rejection in Europe.

He stressed that Nigeria’s imports of agrochemicals and genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are alarmingly high, with 147,446 tonnes of pesticides imported in 2020, a figure more than the combined imports of Southern and North Africa.

Despite this heavy use of pesticides, food insecurity and malnutrition are on the rise.

Ofoegbu proposed agroecology as a sustainable solution, describing it as a nature-based farming system that harmonises food production with biodiversity restoration and ecological health. 

He believes adopting agroecology could enhance climate resilience, ensure food safety, and create opportunities for organic food exports, labour migration, and wealth generation for smallholder communities by 2050.

However, transitioning to agroecology faces significant barriers, including a lack of awareness, education, and skills and limited access to essential resources such as land, water, seeds, and finance. 

Challenges related to market access for agroecological products, the absence of supportive policies, poor governance, and cultural factors also hinder progress.

Correcting this, Ofoegbu advocated for a multi-dimensional approach that involves developing and implementing policies prioritising agroecology, providing incentives, ensuring land tenure security, and offering capacity-building programs for farmers, extension workers, and policymakers. 

Establishing farmer field schools and demonstration plots for peer learning was also recommended as a vital step forward.

Source: The Nation

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