Is there a need for FFS/IPM training in African cropping systems?
AY: Indeed, compared with other parts of the world, pesticide use in Africa is generally believed to be low, but a major problem is that comprehensive statistics on pesticide consumption are still difficult to obtain in many African countries. This is because accurate figures on pesticides imports, production and use are not systematically recorded. With the removal of subsidies on agricultural inputs, pesticides have become too expensive for most smallholder farmers in Africa and they resort to using whatever products they can lay their hands on including adulterated products from illegal cross-border pesticide trade. In many instances, farmers use pesticides recommended for commercial crops such as cotton, cocoa, coffee or rice for treating vegetables because these are the products that are readily available a practice that is highly risky for urban consumers and for the environment. This situation leads to increases in the misuse and abuse of pesticides. IPM training in FFS in Afric
