Journal of Agricultural Science and Practice

Food security in developing countries, including Nigeria, cannot be attained over the long term if made dependent on pesticide products only. Considering the role that pesticides play in Nigerian agriculture, what they hold for the near future and are likely to continue playing in the availability and accessibility of food production in the country makes it all the more urgent for concrete steps to be taken by the government and all stakeholders. This will help to reduce the health and environmental risks of pesticide use in the country. In developing safe procedures for pesticide usage and application in Nigeria following measures are put forward:  promoting integrated pest management and space technology, provision of training and education, regulating pesticide registration and distribution, developing and enforcing safety standards and conducting regular monitoring and evaluation. Integrated Pest Management (IPM) in conjunction with Space Technology stimulate new ecosystem knowledge and new pest and disease control technologies better adapted and less disruptive to local ecosystems. At present, international accords and declarations make governments responsible for ensuring access to safe food, implying food that is safe at each stage from its initial production to its final consumption, and there are international standards that set minimum residue limits for pesticides. Evolving safe procedures for the use of pesticides and application covers all stages of the pesticide life-cycle, from product manufacture to waste disposal. It is recommended that strengthening the regulations for pesticide usage in the country that focuses on the agricultural ecosystem to ensure a sustainable environment for agricultural productivity by all levels of government is highly encouraged. Equally, enforcement of all the laws and regulations concerning pesticide acquisition, handling and applications is desired to minimise food and environmental contamination.