Increased pesticides use in agriculture

A man sprays pesticide to prevent the spread of locusts

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<h1>Increased pesticides use in agriculture</h1>
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<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The use of pesticides – substances or combinations of substances used to prevent, destroy, repel, or weaken the destruction that pests cause to crops – is rising in Sub-Saharan Africa. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">As food insecurity plagues the world, farmers in the region are increasingly turning to pesticides that can protect crops from the damaging impacts of pests and diseases which are currently responsible for </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">about half of crop losses in Africa.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In this spotlight, we look at why the use of pesticides in the region is on the rise, the safety and impacts of pesticides, and what must be done to avert the health and environmental risks of pesticides. </span></p>

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<p>This article was originally published on <a href="https://www.scidev.net" target="_blank">SciDev.Net</a>. Read the <a href="https://www.scidev.net/sub-saharan-africa/spotlight/pesticide-plantwise-programme/" target="_blank">original article</a>.</p>
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The use of pesticides – substances or combinations of substances used to prevent, destroy, repel, or weaken the destruction that pests cause to crops – is rising in Sub-Saharan Africa.

As food insecurity plagues the world, farmers in the region are increasingly turning to pesticides that can protect crops from the damaging impacts of pests and diseases which are currently responsible for about half of crop losses in Africa.

In this spotlight, we look at why the use of pesticides in the region is on the rise, the safety and impacts of pesticides, and what must be done to avert the health and environmental risks of pesticides.