Agricultural Pesticide Use in Malawi

BACKGROUND. The majority of farmers in Malawi use pesticides to protect their crops from pests. Without the use of pesticides, farmers would not be able to harvest significant yields. However, several studies worldwide have shown that some pesticides used by farmers are harmful to human health. Despite these studies, there remains a lack of proper documentation of the use and nature of harmful pesticides. OBJECTIVES. This retrospective study aimed to explore agricultural pesticides used in Malawi, to investigate factors that make Malawi vulnerable to illegal pesticide use, and to assess the extent that farmers in Malawi have adopted integrated pest management (IPM). METHODS. We reviewed the literature and empirical studies relating to the effects of pesticides on human health. Three databases were searched: EBSCOhost, JSTOR and Africa Journals Online (AJOL). Secondary data were used in the present study, such as case studies, reports and published research studies prior to 2010. We used three search terms: “pesticides causing death in Malawi”, “effect of integrated pest management plan”, and “pesticides that cause harm to humans in Malawi”. DISCUSSION. The studies revealed that farmers in Malawi use insecticides, fungicides, herbicides, fumigants, nematicides, acaricide, and rodenticides. These chemicals are mainly used on tobacco, tea, sugarcane, coffee, cotton, and maize crops. Furthermore, the study revealed that farmers in Malawi obtain illegal pesticides from vendors from neighboring countries and that the integrated pest management plan has not been successful in Malawi. CONCLUSIONS. The present study recommends that the agricultural department should devise strategies to increase understanding of the effects of pesticides, restrict illegal pesticides and implement procedures curbing illegal pesticides and policies to support integrated pest management. COMPETING INTERESTS. The authors report no competing financial interests.