What we know about pesticide use in Africa: Implications for Health and Food Safety

Current pesticide control product (PCP) practices across agrifood value chains in Sub-Saharan Africa pose significant and systemic risks to farmers, consumers, and ecosystems.Across multiple countries, PCP use is frequently characterised by overapplication, misuse, limited adherence to Good Agricultural Practices, and the continued use of highly hazardous, unregistered, or banned products.These patterns are particularly pronounced in fruit and vegetable production systems, where intensification, rising pest pressures, and weak access to alternative pest management strategies drive heavy reliance on synthetic pest control products.However, if PCPs are applied responsibly, PCP use can be beneficial for agricultural production and forms an integral part of Good Agricultural Practice (GAP).Current regulatory and monitoring systems remain weak.Many countries lack effective inspection capacity, reliable pesticide registration databases, routine residue monitoring programmes, and enforcement of pre-harvest intervals.As a result, farmers, contract sprayers, and traders are often exposed to PCPs without adequate training or personal protective equipment.Acute pesticide poisoning among farmers is likely severely under-reported, while a growing body of evidence links chronic exposure to long-term health risks, including neurological, respiratory, reproductive, and carcinogenic effects.Beyond occupational exposure, the review documents substantial PCP residues in food sold in local markets.Numerous studies report residue levels exceeding Codex Alimentarius or EU Maximum Residue Limits in commonly consumed vegetables such as tomatoes, leafy greens, peppers, and cabbages.Residues of organophosphates, pyrethroids, and other hazardous compounds are frequently detected, including substances banned in other regions.Local markets consistently show higher contamination rates than export-oriented supply chains, reflecting unequal enforcement and monitoring standards.Post-harvest handling and storage practices of PCPs further exacerbate these risks.Improper storage of PCPs in homes, reuse of containers, poor disposal practices, and environmental contamination extend exposure beyond farm workers to entire communities, including children.Taken together, the evidence indicates that efforts to promote fruit and vegetable consumption for improved nutrition must be accompanied by targeted actions to reduce pesticide-related food safety risks.This includes strengthening regulatory enforcement, improving data collection and residue monitoring, harmonising registration systems, banning most hazardous PCPs from the market and investing in safer pest management alternatives that are feasible within Africa's predominantly informal agricultural markets.This report reviews the available evidence on PCP use and associated human health hazards across agrifood value chains in Sub-Saharan Africa, drawing on 42 peerreviewed and grey literature sources published between