Environmental effect of pesticide use by cocoa farmers in Nigeria

Abstract

Pesticide has been widely adopted in agricultural production for the control/prevention of pests, diseases and weeds but their use has significantly increased the concentration of toxic materials in the environment, with negative effects on plant, animal and non-target organisms. The study examined the environmental effect of pesticide use by cocoa farmers in Nigeria. It specifically identified the common pesticides used, highlighted the observed effects of pesticide use on the environment and determined the effects of pesticide use on the environment. A total of 390 cocoa farmers were selected from five geopolitical zones where cocoa is commercially grown in Nigeria with the aid of structured questionnaire and interview guide using multi-stage sampling technique. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and binary logistic regression model. Results reveal that the common pesticides used by majority of the cocoa farmers in the study area were cypermethrin, copper (1) oxide + Metalaxyl and glyphosate. The major effect of pesticide use observed on the environment were decrease in mosquito bites (76%), incidence of weeds (56.3%), beneficial insects such as bees (75.7%), earthworms (68.3%) and insect pests (75.1%). Pesticide dose used (p<0.05), reading and adherence to instructions on pesticide labels (p<0.01), use of pesticide cocktail (p<0.05), pesticide remnant (p<0.01), pesticide container disposal method (p<0.01) and equipment cleaning (p<0.05) were the significant factors influencing effects of pesticide on the environment in the study area. Cocoa farmers should therefore be trained regularly by both government and non-government organisations about right handling and safe use of pesticide.

Keywords: Cocoa production, environment, lindane, logit regression, pesticide use