**1.3 Yield losses caused by insect pests**

Serious damage to the rice crop by the complex of insect pests result in significant yield losses which are typically in the range 10-30% yields and, in some regions or years, may exceed 90% (Nguu, 2008) (Table 2). Pests cause considerable and unacceptable crop losses in the field and in storage. The very high food losses in West Africa, attributable to pests, highlight their role in causing food shortages that lead to hunger.


Source: Youdeowei (1989, 2004)

Table 2. Examples of average losses attributable to pests of rice in selected West African countries

#### **1.4 The race for pesticide sales in West Africa**

The yield potential of rice cultivated in the intensified systems is continually challenged by chronic pest infestations and by pest outbreaks. This challenge is seen by the chemical industries mostly based in Asia and developing countries as an avenue to aggressively market their products in West Africa. The products are sold without proper training of smallholder farmers on how to safely apply it and without warning of the harmful effect on the environment. The sad aspect of the race for pesticide sales is that many banned pesticides in Asia and other developed countries of the world are being dumped in West Africa. The indiscriminate use of the pesticides has posed a lot of danger to the environment and ecosystem making human life to be under threat. The current article, therefore, not only meets a demand expressed from the regional entomologists but also makes an important contribution to raise alarm of the danger of pesticides in lowland rice which is currently being targeted for intensification.
