COMPLIANCE OF AGROCHEMICAL MARKETERS WITH BANNEDCOCOA PESTICIDES IN SOUTHWEST NIGERIA

This study investigated the compliance of marketers ofagrochemicals with the approved and banned cocoa pesticides in selected cocoaproducing states of southwest Nigeria. Primary data was collected through the useof structured questionnaire administered to randomly selected agrochemicalmarketers. All the marketers (100%) were aware of the recently banned cocoapesticides, however, majority still have the pesticides in stock. About 70.6% of themarketers in Osun state and 58.8% in Ogun state stated that they did not receiveinformation on the banned pesticides from government agencies but through otherchannels. More than half of the marketers (52.9% in Ogun, 55% in Kwara and47.1% in Osun) strongly disagreed that government should place a ban onpesticides. Availability of banned pesticides in their stock, insufficient informationfrom the concerned government agricultural agencies, and fear of short supply ofapproved pesticides are among the reasons proffered by the marketers for notsupporting the ban of pesticides. Relevant government regulatory agencies shouldconduct a comprehensive inventory of pesticides offered for sale by the marketersof agrochemicals. There should be massive public awareness programme, and wellcoordinatedassociation for all the marketers of agrochemicals. Agrochemicalmanufacturers should translate instructions and warnings on pesticide labels tolocal languages understood by the farmers.