The sun rises over lush farm fields of on the outskirts of Lagos. For more than 20 years, a farmer named Joe has tilled the land, coaxing life from the earth and reaping bountiful harvests. But here, beneath the surface of this idyllic scene, lies a complex web of challenges — chief among them, the relentless threat of pests. Joe’s story is one of trial and error, of desperation and loss, and of the unintended consequences of relying on chemical pesticides.
“I planted scent leaf [African basil] on my farmland, it started germinating … that was the beginning and first time planting such seedlings, so I didn’t know how tough it could be,” Joe recalls, his voice laced with a mix of frustration and resignation while speaking to Mongabay. He notes an abundance of aphids and caterpillars on his plants, which present a constant challenge.“I came to my farmland one fateful morning and I saw a lot of insects flying around my farm,” he says. “They have taken over my scent leaf. That incident resulted in total loss of my investment because no one could buy that produce.”
That experience marked a turning point in his farming career. Desperate to protect his livelihood, Joe turned to chemical pesticides, convinced they held the key to safeguarding his crops.
But the pesticides that promised to save Joe’s crops have become a double-edged sword for him. The substances he used are called organochlorine pesticides, which have been linked to soil degradation, the decline of beneficial soil animals and even distortion of soil formation. These chemicals, designed to kill pests, can also harm humans and wildlife, contaminating water sources and food chains.
Joe shakes his head, recalling a disastrous day. “I had a batch of scent leaf ready to sell, and a customer promised to buy them all the next day. In my excitement, I decided to give them a little extra care with a heavy dose of pesticides to keep those pests away. I thought I’d be a hero, but it turned out to be a poisoned chalice. The chemicals ended up burning my entire scent leaf [crop]. I lost all my market and was left indebted.” more of this article (mongabay) - link - more like this (pesticides) - link - more like this (Nigeria) - link
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