Pests and donors in mali, 1985-90

Area of Science:

• Agricultural Science
• Environmental Science
• Development Studies

Background:

• Large-scale pesticide spray campaigns were implemented in the Sahel region between 1985 and 1988 to combat migratory crop pests.
• These emergency measures were adopted as a long-term crop protection strategy by the Malian government and international donors.
• A similar pattern of pesticide reliance has been observed in Burkina Faso, Niger, and Senegal.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the long-term sustainability and economic viability of emergency pesticide responses as crop protection strategies in the Sahel.
• To evaluate the impact of sustained pesticide use on the development of alternative plant protection methods.
• To provide recommendations for donor practices regarding pesticide aid.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of historical pesticide campaign data in the Sahel.
• Economic assessment of current crop protection strategies.
• Evaluation of the impact on the development of alternative pest management techniques.

Main Results:

• The adopted long-term pesticide strategy is financially unsustainable.
• The approach is likely economically wasteful, diverting resources from more effective solutions.
• The reliance on pesticides stunts the development and adoption of diverse plant protection strategies.

Conclusions:

• Continued reliance on emergency pesticide responses as a long-term strategy is detrimental to sustainable agriculture in the Sahel.
• Donors must implement critical, collective control over pesticide aid distribution.
• Economic evaluations should be mandatory for all pesticide aid to ensure efficient and effective crop protection investment.