**5. Study geography and analysis**

The survey of agrochemical stores and trading facilities was conducted in North Central Nigeria. Agrochemical dealers in three major farm-based stores in central towns were randomly selected and visited with a structured questionnaire. The questionnaire was duly completed with the co-operation and support of the respondent and the interviewee. The identity of the chemical stores in selected locations was kept anonymous. Information was sought on the trade name, type of agrochemicals (herbicide, insecticide or fungicide, etc.), active ingredient(s) present in the pesticides, and the crop(s) in which the pesticides were targeted. However, the trade names of the agrochemicals and locations were kept anonymous but the active ingredients were used as the bases of this report. The active ingredients were benchmarked with the requirements of the international standards organization.

The information obtained from the agrochemical stores on the active ingredients on sale in the open market were subjected to the benchmarks of the international standards organizations, such as 4C Association, BCI, Bonsucro, FSC, Fairtrade, RSB, Rainforest Alliance, SAN, and UTZ, as related to the toxicity, restriction status, and effect of such active ingredients on human, animal, and environment.
