ZEFCPC Colloquium: Improving local agriculture practices in Niger
2026-07-22 11:00 - 12:00 (Europe/Berlin)
Agriculture is the primary source of livelihood for most of Niger's population, especially in rural areas, where farming and livestock provide food and income. However, agriculture faces challenges such as drought, desertification, low rainfall, and climate change, which affect productivity. To address these issues, farmers are turning to irrigated crops, i.e. horticulture, which helps bridge the gap in winter crop production and strengthens food security. But, horticulture is subject to high pest and disease pressure and farmers are using a broad range of industrial pesticides, replacing previous traditional control methods. The use of pesticides has thus become an integral part of the modernization of horticulture in Niger. But inappropriate use may cause negative health effects to farm operators, workers, consumers, residents, etc. Here we present research on the (eco-)toxicological impacts of pesticide use in Niger and on their potential risks for human health and the environment.
