Food crop protection in West and Central Africa: Ed. by J.G. Theissen and R. Pierrot. ISBN 2 11 088570 X. Paris: Ministere de la cooperation, 1994. Published as French and English editions

Abstract

As a new millennium approaches, crop protectionists might profitably reflect on the chemical era of the 20th century, and assess their future contribution to world food and fibre production. New synthetic pesticides are increasingly selective in action and continue to be a cost-effective and reliable resource to many growers when properly managed. Risks to users and the environment from some older products must be reduced further through statutory and voluntary means. Biotechnology will play an important role in pest control but genetically-modified crops are not a panacea for major problems. Various non-chemical approaches need to become more available and affordable through appropriate commercialisation and government policy directives, with priority given to those that are compatible with ecology-based IPM. Information technology will also have a major impact on pest management and the implementation of truly integrated crop production. Participative farmer training is recognised as a key requirement for change. There is an unhealthy polarisation of views between some protagonists on the chemical and biological approaches to crop protection, particularly in tropical regions. This has to be resolved by better cooperation and foresight across public and private sectors if sustainable farming is to be realised through a balanced ‘basket of conventional and novel opportunities’. The extreme view of ‘zero pesticide’ IPM must be placed in the context of growers' different socio-economic needs, the demands of various customers and scientific evidence of the real risks from modern chemical use.