Pricing organic cotton...

Special report from OBEPAB >>> Cotton pesticides and
human health: intoxications continue to occur in Benin
Following repeated media reports of health injuries and deaths in the region of
Parakou and Tchaorou (Northern Benin) involving cotton pesticides; OBEPAB (the
Benin Organisation for the Promotion of Organic Agriculture) has made an inquiry to
understand the circumstances more deeply. The method applied for this investigation
was twofold. First, some interviews were made with health centers, security services
and regional agricultural extension services. The second step was to talk with some
victims and their families.
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As results, a total number of 161 persons were poisoned among which 19 died, all
occurring from the 1st of July to 6th of August 2010 in the same location of Parakou
and Tchaorou. According to the health centers, the victims were aged from 3 to 60
years old. The symptoms observed were consistent; vomiting, convulsive crises,
abdominal pains, diarrhea, headaches, loss of consciousness and coma. Most victims
reported that their symptoms started after consumption of food containing cereals
(maize, sorghum and millet) and dried cassava and yam and doctors have
demonstrated contamination of the foods with cotton pesticides as the most
plausible cause of this poisoning. Surprisingly, the region of Parakou and Tchaorou is
not a big cotton production area.
Traders of cereals and dried tubers are identified as presumably responsible. These
agricultural products are stored and come into the local market when fresh food is
scarce. They are highly susceptible to attack by post harvest insects. Normal food
storage pesticides are not effective and hardly ever supplied to traders. But traders
can easily buy cotton pesticides from farmers to apply on cereals and dried tuber
stocks to prevent them being damaged. During good years when the rainy season is
normal, the new harvest of cereals and yam comes to the marketplace in the months
of August and September. In order to avoid consequences of price drops and to be
prepared to buy and stock products of the new harvest, traders intend to quickly
destock their stores of previous season’s products (which are kept as insurance in
case of rain shortage and bad harvest during the following season) before the new
harvest come to the market. Such behaviour is becoming common and well known by
some traders who prefer to buy (if they are obliged to) cereals and dried tubers
containing post harvest insects instead of the ‘clean’ ones.
It has become urgent that authorities take action to protect the public from such
profit-driven behaviours that continue to cause damage. After the tragedy of July and
August 2010, local authorities in Parakou organized some ‘sensitization’ talks on the
local radio involving doctors, judges and other key resource people. This initiative is
encouraging. However, is it enough to stop such persistent behaviour There is a
need to go further by setting a clear protocol of keeping cereals and dried tubers and
a supply of recommended pesticides. Competent government services have to control
the cereals and dried tuber stocks and to locate responsibilities to prevent future
public health crises such as those in Parakou and Tchaorou.
Above: Dr. Davo Simplice,
OBEPAB, Benin
“It has become urgent that
authorities take actions to
protect the public...”
Above: Maize (for food) stored alongside
harmful pesticides
“Make sure you know where your
food comes from and never eat
or feed your family food that has
been treated with pesticides
whilst in storage...” Silvere
Tovignan, Textile Exchange
The Benin Organisation for the Promotion of Organic Agriculture (OBEPAB) is an
NGO created in 1996 to promote organic agriculture as an alternative for producers.
OBEPAB work for sustainable development with emphasis on the development of
local resources and develop sustainable agricultural production systems, preserving
the health of producers and consumers and safeguarding the environment.
Above: organically grown food is safe and
nutritious.