Impact of - IDL-BNC @ IDRC - International Development Research ...

Methods
A pilot field survey was undertaken to ascertain the status of pesticide use in
Cameroon and to generate baseline information, enabling the team to carry
out a more substantial study of pesticide poisoning. A questionnaire was
administered to 360 respondents, 30 from each of the 12 districts of the west
(Bafoussam, Bandjoun, Dschang, Foumbot, Calm, and Mbouda), central
(Mfou, Monatélé, Obala, and Yaoundé), and south (Ebowala and Zoétélé)
provinces of the country. Further information was gathered from official
government records.
Results and discussion
Cameroon imports insecticides, fungicides, herbicides, rodenticides, and
acaricides. Between 1985 and 1987, imports amounted to some 60 000 t of
pesticide per year. In 1988 and 1989, this amount decreased considerably, to
almost half.
Legislation on pesticide use is still in the draft stage. The standards followed
are those set out in the decree on the regulation of poisonous substances and
in the standards and recommendations of the United Nations' Food and
Agriculture Organization (FAQ) and the United Nations Environment Programme
(UNEP).
Pesticides used on cash crops (coffee and cocoa) are distributed through an
established system. On the basis of a list of pesticides tested and recognized
as effective by the Institute of Agronomic Research, the Ministry of Agriculture
purchases the pesticides abroad through agrochemical companies (such as
Rhône Poulenc, ADER, Shell Cameroon, etc.) with operations in Cameroon.
The substances are then distributed to coffee growers via the Ministry's
regional branches, consisting of provincial plant-health stations, departmental
brigades, and agricultural stations in the districts and villages.
In the cocoa sector, a state-owned enterprise is responsible for protecting
plantations. It orders pesticides and is responsible for their use in the field or
their distribution to cocoa growers in the producing areas.
However, pesticides are being diverted from the agricultural outstations. Food
and vegetable producers buy pesticides for use in production and conservation.
They are purchased from agrochemical companies and resold on the
open market or by one user to another. Domestic agrochemical companies
place their orders directly with private industry. The pesticides used in public-health
and animal protection are also purchased on the open market or
from private industry.
Two groups of pesticides make up the bulk of those used: insecticides and
fungicides. Insecticides include organochlorides, organophosphates,
115