Pesticide Problems: Management and Control in the Developing Countries

Dr. K. Nsiah-Gyabaah, Sunyani Polytechnic, P.O. Box 206, Sunyani, Brong Ahafo, Ghana 

It is known that over 1000 chemical compounds, biological and physical agents are used around the world as pesticides, fungicides, herbicides, fertilizers and anti-microbial compounds. Each year over two million tones of pesticide products are scattered over the environment to control pests and disease. About 20 percent of pesticides used are in the developing countries and pesticide usage is expected to increase since the majority of the world’s population, and certainly the most rapidly growing, live in the developing countries. In Africa, they have been responsible for substantially increasing food production and also in the control of some important human diseases such as malaria and typhus. While synthetic chemical pesticides have brought about great socio-economic benefits, they also cause serious human health and environmental problems.

Long-term exposure to toxic pesticides, even at low doses, has undesirable health effects.  It is estimated that about 90 per cent of the pesticides used never reach their intended targets. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that some 1 million people suffer acute pesticide poisoning and at least 20,000 die each year. At least two-thirds of this illness and deaths result from occupational exposure in the developing countries where people use pesticides without protective clothing. Many beneficial organisms are poisoned unintentionally as a result. Potential exposure pathways including occupational, intentional (suicide), non-occupational, inadequate storage and handling pose a serious threat not only to human health but lead to contamination of land and water resources.

The research is a case study of pesticide use among farmers in the forest-savannah transition zone in Ghana where the effects on human health and the environment are believed to be significant. Attention would be paid to pesticide management and control in Ghana and other measures that can be used to reduce the environmental and human impacts of pesticide utilization.

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