Safe Use of Pesticides for a Sustainable Environment.

1. Safe Use of Pesticides for a Sustainable
Environment
by
Engr. O.O.O. Sode
Director-NESREA(SW)
@
The 2-days training/workshop on application
and safe use of pesticides
Under: The sustainable weed management
technologies for cassava systems in Nigeria
project
Vigna Room, IITA, Ibadan

2. INTRODUCTION
• Chemicals are used in every facet of life and
are present in a bewildering range of products
and applications. Growing knowledge of the
wide distribution and impact of chemicals in
the environment and the human body has
underscored the need for regulatory control
and careful management. Agricultural
herbicides are important subset of chemicals
and pose grave challenges.

3. • The international community has taken several
important initiatives to protect the environment
and health from improper application of
chemicals. These include the Montreal Protocol
on protection of the ozone layer, the Basel
Convention on the Tran boundary Movement of
Hazardous Wastes, the Rotterdam Convention on
the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain
Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in
International Trade, the Stockholm Convention
on Persistent Organic Pollutants, and the
Strategic Approach to International Chemicals
Management.

4. • Although many of the chemicals addressed by
the above initiatives are agricultural
pesticides, these initiatives are predominantly
led by organizations in the environmental
sector. Consequently, the dialogue in various
countries is primarily among the environment
authorities. Special efforts are therefore
required to better harmonize the work of the
different sectors at national level, this we
believe this workshop is aimed at achieving.

5. • Herbicides are designed to control pest plants
(‘weeds’) and are useful in many situations for
effective eradication. It is important to realise,
however, that many herbicides are toxic to other
ecosystems. Plants, invertebrates, amphibians
and fish may be harmed when herbicide leach
into a waterbody. Inappropriate use of herbicides
may also cause significant risks to human health
where water is pumped from a bore for domestic
use, or flows to reservoirs.

6. The ‘NESREA ESTABLISHMENT ACT Section 27 reads:
Any discharge in such harmful quantities of any hazardous
substance into the air or upon the land and the waters of
Nigeria or at the adjoining shorelines is prohibited, except
where such discharge is permitted or authorized under any
law in force in Nigeria.
(F) A person must not undertake any activity that pollutes,
or might pollute, the environment unless the person takes
all reasonable and practicable measures to prevent or
minimize any resulting environmental harm.
Herbicides applied to the edge of a waterbody, or in wetted
areas around its edge, must be registered for use in aquatic
environments by NESREA as stated in the National
Environmental (wetlands, riverbanks and lakeshore
protection) Regulations 2009

7. Other initiatives of the Agency
NESREA is playing a role on the West African
Agricultural Productivity Programme (WAAP); a
world bank assisted programme aimed at making
Agriculture more effective and productive.
The Agency role here is to educate, sensitize and
enforce the banned chemicals and promote use
of effective alternatives.
• A regulation on chemicals and pesticides control
has been developed by the Agency and is near
final gazetting

8. In ensuring effective use of chemicals to protectc the
environment, the following measures should be
ensured;
(a) Consider integrated pest management (IPM)
Integrated pest management (IPM) is a planned
approach that coordinates environmentally
acceptable methods of pest control with careful and
minimal use of toxic pesticides. IPM programs are
based on a comprehensive assessment of local
conditions, including factors such as climate, season,
the biology of the pest species, and government
regulations.

9. (b) Consult and plan
Draw up a calendar for action- The time of year when
herbicides will be most effective on the weed should be a
major influence in the make-up of this calendar. Herbicides
are generally most effective during the growing season of
the weed rather than when it is dormant or approaching
dormancy.
Consult with neighbours who may be affected by your weed
control operation, especially if you think there is any risk of
spray drift to adjoining properties. You may also decide to
seek advice from experts before taking further action, or
approach commercial spray contractors to assess your
particular situation.

10. © Understanding labels
Chemical labels are not for advertisment. They provide
technical information designed to help you use the contents
correctly without causing personal or environmental harm.
Labels contain information about the product, including
instructions for handling and information about the
chemical’s toxicity.
Before using a chemical, read the label carefully. Pay
particular attention to the toxicity warning and directions
for use.
Toxicity warning
Chemicals are either not classified (unscheduled) or
classified according to toxicity and listed as being either
Schedule 5, Schedule 6 or Schedule 7 chemicals.

11. Directions for use
This section of the label provides detailed
information about the pests the chemical will control,
the situations in which it can be used, how it is to be
applied and the rates at which it must be used. This
information is usually presented in a table. Different
rates may be specified depending on methods of
application and the
pest to be controlled.

12. Labels also include general information on:
conditions required to achieve best results,
any other warnings such as possible effect of the
product on plants or fauna,
mixing instructions ,storage of product,
spills, cleanup, disposal of containers (EPR),
safety directions and first aid.
If in doubt, or require further information, seek
advice or obtain a material safety data sheet (MSDS)
from the chemical supplier.

13. Accidents and emergency situations
= Preparation is the best defense against emergencies.
= Appropriate emergency plan should be developed to
enable user handle situations when need be.
= Make sure you have access to appropriate emergency
equipment including protective clothing, spill
containment and clean-up equipment.
= If chemical is splashed in the eye, wash it immediately
in running water for 15 minutes and call a doctor
immediately.

14. Personal protective equipment
Personal protective equipment (PPE) is designed to safeguard
against both acute and chronic herbicide poisoning and
generally includes products that prevent absorption of herbicide
through the skin or eyes, or by inhalation. PPE commonly
recommended for use when applying herbicide includes:
goggles or face shield to protect the eyes ,
chemical-resistant gloves to protect hands
overalls to protect legs, arms, torso (trunk) and groin
respirator with filter cartridges to prevent inhalation of
herbicide vapour or mist
rubber or PVC boots to protect feet
washable or chemical-resistant hat to protect head and scalp
use PVC apron during mixing.

16. BEFORE YOU SPRAY
If you do decide to spray herbicides near waterbodies
and other sensitive ecosystems, there is the need for
a thorough risk assessment of the work.
You should also consider the:
feasibility/practicability of the required job ,
physical characteristics of the job site
optimal pest control method, including alternatives to
herbicides characteristics of the herbicide (physical,
chemical and environmental)
potential environmental/health effects that may
result from spraying activities.

17. •
In addition, you should have a property management plan
that considers the sensitivity of neighbouring land to any
chemical use.
You should also be mindful of:
protected areas;
buffer zones;
possibility of spray drift; and other off-target migration
weather conditions.
You should also ensure good communication with your
neighbours, both at the planning stages and prior to
spraying.

18. Do you need to spray?
• It is recommended that only trained, licensed
contractors should carry out spraying
operations near fragile ecosystems, because of
the sensitivity of these environments.

19. CONCLUSION
In the tropics, nature designed soils to be kaolinite,
therefore, when agro-inputs such as herbicides are
wrongly used, they are either leached or washed off
and may enter into water body meant for human
consumption. To curb this menace, soil testing is
important as this will enable us to know what the soil
lacks or have in excess. This can help to check the
pollution of our soils and associated ecosystem.

20. THANK YOU
FOR YOUR ATTENTION
nesrea, ensuring a cleaner and healthier environment
for all Nigerians
www.nesrea.gov.ng
08174634705-9