Legal and policy measures to curtail harmful use of agrichemicals in Nigeria

• Jurisdiction: South Africa
• Author: Ezirigwe, J.
• Published date: 11 August 2020
• Citation: (2019) 6(2) Journal of Comparative Law in Africa 106
• Pages: 106-131
• Date: 11 August 2020

106

LEGAL AND POLICY MEASURES TO

CURTAIL HARMFUL USE OF

AGRICHEMICALS IN NIGERIA

Jane Ezirigwe*

Abstract

Agricultural chemicals are increasingly used under the perception that they are

fundamental to achieving maximum crop yields and reducing output shrinkage.

Today, far more antibiotics are consumed by animals than by humans, the vast

majority for growth promotion and disease prevention; as substitutes for nutrition

and hygiene. Chemical preservatives are used to improve the quality of farm

produce. Current scientific research indicates that the misuse of agrichemicals

negatively impacts human health and the environment, raising questions regarding

the negative effects of unregulated agrichemical use on the health of the producers

and consumers. This paper adopts an evaluative approach to scrutinise the existing

legal and regulatory frameworks on agrichemical use in Nigeria. Its aim is to

determine the adequacy of the legal and regulatory frameworks. It finds that the

indiscriminate use of agrichemicals by Nigerian farmers and traders of agricultural

products result from the absence of adequate laws, a regulatory failure, and ignorance

on the part of the farming and consuming communities. It makes recommendations

on policy options that can be used to reduce the use and misuse of agrichemicals,

without the time consuming legislative and administrative amendments. This will

help to promote the health of Nigerian farmers, consumers and their African

counterparts.

Keywords: agrichemicals regulation, food safety policy, environmental

degradation, public safety.

Résumé

Les produits agrochimiques sont de plus en plus utilisés, car donnant l’impression

d’être essentiels pour obtenir des rendements maximaux et réduire la baisse de

production. De nos jours, les animaux consomment beaucoup plus d’antibiotiques

que les êtres humains, la grande majorité servant à la promotion de la croissance et

à la prévention des maladies, se substituant ainsi à la nutrition et à l›hygiène. Les

conservateurs chimiques sont aussi utilisés pour améliorer la qualité des produits du

sol. Les recherches scientifiques actuelles indiquent que l’utilisation abusive de

produits agrochimiques a un impact négatif sur la santé humaine et sur

l’environnement, ce qui soulève des questions concernant les effets négatifs de

l’utilisation non réglementée de produits agrochimiques sur la santé des producteurs

et des consommateurs. Cet article adopte une approche évaluative pour analyser les

* LLB (Hons.) Abuja, LLM (London), MBA (EBS), Doctoral Scholar, University of Cape

Town, South Africa; Research Fellow, Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies; ezirigwejane

@gmail.com.

(2019) 6(2) Journal of Comparative Law in Africa 106

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LEGAL AND POLICY MEASURES TO CURTAIL HARMFUL USE OF

AGRICHEMICALS IN NIGERIA 107

cadres légal et réglementaire existants sur l’utilisation des produits agrochimiques

au Nigéria, son objectif principal étant de déterminer l’adéquation des cadres légal

et réglementaire. Il constate que l’utilisation aveugle de produits agrochimiques par

les agriculteurs et les commerçants en produits agricoles nigérians résulte de l’absence

de lois adéquates, d’une lacune de la réglementation et de l’ignorance des

communautés d’agriculteurs et de consommateurs. Il formule des recommandations

sur les options de politique pouvant être utilisées pour réduire l’utilisation abusive

des produits agrochimiques, sans passer par des réformes législatives et administratives

fastidieuses. Cela contribuera à promouvoir la santé des agriculteurs et des

consommateurs nigérians, ainsi que celle de leurs homologues africains.

Mots-clés: régulation des produits agrochimiques, politique de sécurité

alimentaire, dégradation de l›environnement, sécurité publique

Introduction

The rising population in developing countries like Nigeria has intensified

the need for additional food production.1 Agricultural chemicals2 such as

fertilisers are therefore increasingly used under the perception that they

are fundamental to achieving maximum crop yields. Pesticides are used to

control pest and diseases in crops and aquaculture. Agricultural chemicals

are also utilised as preservatives and in reducing output shrinkage.

Changing dietary preferences are furthermore driving a dietary

revolution, in which consumption of eggs, milk, meat and fish are

increasing rapidly.3 This, in turn, is driving changes in how animals are

farmed. These changes in animal farming systems, against a background

of high levels of endemic and epidemic diseases, have increased the use

of antibiotics in agriculture in developing countries.4 Today, far more

antibiotics are consumed by animals than by humans, the vast majority

for growth promotion and disease prevention; as substitutes for nutrition

and hygiene.5

Agrichemical enterpr ises persist in their claim that ‘their products

are safe when used correctly by farmers and regulated effectively by the

1 Niger ia is projected to quadruple its population by 2050. See, Nigeria to become 3rd most

populous country by 2050 – UN report on June 21, 2017. Available at https://www.vanguardngr.

com/2017/06/nigeria-become-3rd-populous-country-2050-un-report/ [Accessed on 4 June

2018].

2 The terms ‘agricultural chemical’ and ‘agrichemical’ are used interchangeably. See the text for

definition.

3 FAO Protein Sources for the Animal Feed Industry, Expert Consultation and Workshop,

Bangkok, 29 April – 3 May 2002. Available at http://www.fao.org/3/y5019e/y5019e00.htm,

[Accessed on 14 August 2018].

4 Grace, D., 2015. Review of Evidence on Antimicrobial Resistance and Animal Agriculture

in Developing Countries, UK Evidence on Demand. Available at https://dx.doi.org/10.12774/

eod_cr.june2015.graced [Accessed on 14 August 2018].

5 Mar shall B.M. & Levy, S.B. ‘Food animals and antimicrobials: Impacts on human health’ (2011)

24 Clinical Microbiology Reviews 718–733.

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