**3. Modern alternatives to traditional pesticides**

Until about four decades ago, crop yields in agricultural systems depended on internal resources, recycling of organic matter, built-in biological control mechanisms and rainfall patterns. Pesticides started a revolution in agriculture and quality improvement methods. The state of the art in pesticides continues to evolve and progress as time passes. But, in these years pesticides were very toxic and left residues in the environment for a long time. On the other hand, loss of yields due to pests in many crops (reaching about 20-30% in most crops), despite the substantial increase in the use of pesticides (about 500 million kg of active ingredient worldwide) is a symptom of the environmental crisis affecting agriculture.

However, farm products must obviously be free from pesticide contamination, which is possible primarily through organic farming. In addition, global social awareness of proper and minimal need based use of these chemicals, to some extent may reduce health related problems (Altieri, 1995).

Therefore, many countries established adequate regulatory safeguards over the manufacture, sale and use of the pesticides. For this reason, complex and costly studies were conducted to indicate whether the material is safe to use and effective against the intended pest. Despite the applications, some human disasters like which occurred in Bhopal and China, and long term side effects on human and animal life style and environmental contamination amplify the approach to find and produce modern pesticides with lower problems and/or to perform alternative applications to traditional pesticides.

IPM2, the use of multiple approaches to control pests, is becoming widespread and has been used with success in countries such as Indonesia, China, Bangladesh, the U.S., Australia, and Mexico (Miller, 2004). IPM attempts to recognize the more widespread impacts of an action on an ecosystem, so that natural balances are not upset (Daly et al., 1998). New pesticides are being developed, including biological and botanical derivatives and alternatives that are thought to reduce health and environmental risks. In addition, applicators are being encouraged to consider alternative controls and adopt methods that reduce the use of chemical pesticides.

Pesticides can be created that are targeted to a specific pest's life cycle, which can be environmentally friendlier. For example, potato cyst nematodes emerge from their protective cysts in response to a chemical excreted by potatoes; they feed on the potatoes and damage the crop.[81] A similar chemical can be applied to fields early, before the potatoes are planted, causing the nematodes to emerge early and starve in the absence of potatoes (WWW. Wikipedia.com).

The major alternatives to traditional chemical pesticides are listed below:

i. Natural pesticides,


<sup>2</sup> Integrated pest management


carcinogenic effect of pesticides. There is a potential to prevent at least some childhood

Until about four decades ago, crop yields in agricultural systems depended on internal resources, recycling of organic matter, built-in biological control mechanisms and rainfall patterns. Pesticides started a revolution in agriculture and quality improvement methods. The state of the art in pesticides continues to evolve and progress as time passes. But, in these years pesticides were very toxic and left residues in the environment for a long time. On the other hand, loss of yields due to pests in many crops (reaching about 20-30% in most crops), despite the substantial increase in the use of pesticides (about 500 million kg of active ingredient worldwide) is a symptom of the environmental crisis affecting agriculture. However, farm products must obviously be free from pesticide contamination, which is possible primarily through organic farming. In addition, global social awareness of proper and minimal need based use of these chemicals, to some extent may reduce health related

Therefore, many countries established adequate regulatory safeguards over the manufacture, sale and use of the pesticides. For this reason, complex and costly studies were conducted to indicate whether the material is safe to use and effective against the intended pest. Despite the applications, some human disasters like which occurred in Bhopal and China, and long term side effects on human and animal life style and environmental contamination amplify the approach to find and produce modern pesticides with lower

IPM2, the use of multiple approaches to control pests, is becoming widespread and has been used with success in countries such as Indonesia, China, Bangladesh, the U.S., Australia, and Mexico (Miller, 2004). IPM attempts to recognize the more widespread impacts of an action on an ecosystem, so that natural balances are not upset (Daly et al., 1998). New pesticides are being developed, including biological and botanical derivatives and alternatives that are thought to reduce health and environmental risks. In addition, applicators are being encouraged to consider alternative controls and adopt methods that

Pesticides can be created that are targeted to a specific pest's life cycle, which can be environmentally friendlier. For example, potato cyst nematodes emerge from their protective cysts in response to a chemical excreted by potatoes; they feed on the potatoes and damage the crop.[81] A similar chemical can be applied to fields early, before the potatoes are planted, causing the nematodes to emerge early and starve in the absence of

problems and/or to perform alternative applications to traditional pesticides.

The major alternatives to traditional chemical pesticides are listed below:

cancer by reducing or eliminating pesticide exposure (Zahm & Ward, 1998).

**3. Modern alternatives to traditional pesticides** 

problems (Altieri, 1995).

reduce the use of chemical pesticides.

potatoes (WWW. Wikipedia.com).

i. Natural pesticides, ii. Biological pest control, iii. Plant genetic engineering, iv. Interfering with insect breeding, v. Application of composted yard waste,

2 Integrated pest management

In the last 10 years, one line of research has been in the area of natural pesticides. This typically means that certain botanical plant oils have been processed, combined, or concentrated into pesticides. These plant oils have a unique action that targets a key neurotransmitter receptor called octopamine which is found in all invertebrates (i.e. insects), but not in mammals.

Alternatives to pesticides are available and include methods of cultivation, use of biological pest controls (such as pheromones and microbial pesticides), plant genetic engineering, and methods of interfering with insect breeding (Miller, 2004). Application of composted yard waste has also been used as a way of controlling pests (McSorley & Gallaher, 1996). These methods are becoming increasingly popular and often are safer than traditional chemical pesticides. In addition, EPA is registering reduced-risk conventional pesticides in increasing numbers.

Cultivation practices include polyculture (growing multiple types of plants), crop rotation, planting crops in areas where the pests that damage them do not live, timing planting according to when pests will be least problematic, and use of trap crops that attract pests away from the real crop. In the U.S., farmers have had success controlling insects by spraying with hot water at a cost that is about the same as pesticide spraying (Miller, 2004).

Release of other organisms that fight the pest is another example of an alternative to pesticide use. These organisms can include natural predators or parasites of the pests. Biological pesticides based on entomopathogenic fungi, bacteria and viruses cause disease in the pest species can also be used (Miller, 2004).

Interfering with insects' reproduction can be accomplished by sterilizing males of the target species and releasing them, so that they mate with females but do not produce offspring (Miller, 2004). This technique was first used on the screwworm fly in 1958 and has since been used with the medfly, the tsetse fly, and the gypsy moth. However, this can be a costly, time consuming approach that only works on some types of insects (Miller, 2004).

Another alternative to pesticides is the thermal treatment of soil through steam. Soil steaming kills pest and increases soil health.

#### **3.1 Effectiveness of alternatives to traditional pesticides**

Some evidence shows that alternatives to pesticides can be equally effective as the use of chemicals. The experiences resulted from some countries used alternatives emphasize that reduction of pesticide use, application of composted yard waste with high carbon to nitrogen ratio to agricultural fields, etc were highly effective at r increasing crop yield. As a result, today's pesticides and alternative methods are safer and more effective in controlling pests than ever before in our history.

#### **3.2 Problems of modern pesticide systems**

As agricultural modernization progressed, the ecology-farming linkage was often broken as ecological principles were ignored and/or overridden. In fact, several agricultural scientists have arrived at a general consensus that modern agriculture confronts an environmental crisis. A growing number of people have become concerned about the long-term

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sustainability of existing food production systems. Evidence has accumulated showing that whereas the present capital- and technology-intensive farming systems have been extremely productive and competitive; they also bring a variety of economic, environmental and social problems. Evidence indicates, however, that excessive reliance on monoculture farming and agro-industrial inputs, such as capital-intensive technology, pesticides, and chemical fertilizers, has negatively impacted the environment and rural society. Most agriculturalists had assumed that the agroecosystem/natural ecosystem dichotomy need not lead to undesirable consequences, yet, unfortunately, a number of ecological diseases have been associated with the intensification of food production. They may be grouped into two categories:


## **4. Conclusion**

Agricultural and veterinary chemicals are vital to our welfare and the protection of the health of our families and pets. Unless, and until, better, more efficient and more cost effective means of pest control are developed, farm chemicals will remain a major weapon in our constant battle against pests. Production would drop drastically, and food would be of poorer quality, more expensive and in short supply. Many pets and farm animals would suffer and die needlessly. World's economy and our standard of living would rapidly decline. In addition, to elevate the human life quality level and to protect public health against even mortal effects of chemicals, new generations of pesticides and alternatives to traditional chemical pesticides are applied to produce healthier and larger amount of various food.

#### **5. References**


sustainability of existing food production systems. Evidence has accumulated showing that whereas the present capital- and technology-intensive farming systems have been extremely productive and competitive; they also bring a variety of economic, environmental and social problems. Evidence indicates, however, that excessive reliance on monoculture farming and agro-industrial inputs, such as capital-intensive technology, pesticides, and chemical fertilizers, has negatively impacted the environment and rural society. Most agriculturalists had assumed that the agroecosystem/natural ecosystem dichotomy need not lead to undesirable consequences, yet, unfortunately, a number of ecological diseases have been associated with the intensification of food production. They may be grouped into two

i. diseases of the ecotope, which include erosion, loss of soil fertility, depletion of nutrient reserves, salinization and alkalinization, pollution of water systems, loss of fertile

ii. diseases of the biocoenosis, which include loss of crop, wild plant, and animal genetic resources, elimination of natural enemies, pest resurgence and genetic resistance to pesticides, chemical contamination, and destruction of natural control mechanisms.

Agricultural and veterinary chemicals are vital to our welfare and the protection of the health of our families and pets. Unless, and until, better, more efficient and more cost effective means of pest control are developed, farm chemicals will remain a major weapon in our constant battle against pests. Production would drop drastically, and food would be of poorer quality, more expensive and in short supply. Many pets and farm animals would suffer and die needlessly. World's economy and our standard of living would rapidly decline. In addition, to elevate the human life quality level and to protect public health against even mortal effects of chemicals, new generations of pesticides and alternatives to traditional chemical pesticides are applied to produce healthier and larger amount of

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Informational Strategies to Reduce Pesticide Risks, Vol. 26, No. 2. *Preventive* 

categories:

**4. Conclusion** 

various food.

**5. References** 

Boulder.

*Medicine*.

croplands to urban development;

*Chemical Toxicology* 38: 443-450.

chemicals in Australia.


**2** 

*1,3Cote D'ivoire* 

*2USA* 

**African Urban Cities** 

*1Laboratoire Central d'Agrochimie et d'Ecotoxicologie,* 

*3Département Environnement et Santé, Institut Pasteur,* 

**Quality of Vegetables and Pests Control in** 

Urban farming or Urban gardening (Urban Agriculture) is the practice of farming in a city environment. This practice of food production takes place on rooftops, in backyards, in community gardens and in vacant public spaces in industrial countries (JOB S Ebenezer, 2010). In the industrialized world, urban farming largely disappeared in this century in spite of the recent development of the green roof movement, but in the developing world it has persisted and since the 1970's has shown signs of increase (Nelson., 1996). Today, in the developing world especially in African countries, more and more people are migrating from rural to urban settings adding to the increase in global population in urban cities. Such growing urbanization has increased the demand for quantity and quality food production and consumption in the cities. The contribution of urban agriculture to these cities has the potential to improve livelihoods and provide economic growth and stability to the population (Nugent, 1997; Garnett, 1996). Also, organic practices can be further promoted in urban agriculture by transforming nutrient rich waste from landfills into organic fertilizer

In Côte d'Ivoire, migration from rural areas brings into the urban areas many persons with very little formal education. This may result in unemployment and under-employment of a sizable number of people. Urban agriculture may be a way to occupy the inner city youth,

Urban agriculture has the potential for creating micro-enterprises that can be owned and

Horticulture is a vital economic sector for most African countries. Côte d'Ivoire fruits and vegetables export to EU (European Union) countries are estimated to over 360, 000 tons. In 2007, Burkina Faso exported more than 925, 000 tons of fresh green beans. In Mali tomatoes production was over 17,000 tons and okra reached 8,600 tons. Despite the economic potential, the horticultural sector including urban agriculture is confronted to pests' attacks and phytosanitary problems. It needs to comply with the pesticides regulations and the quality control (traceability) standards which are now required by most industrials and export countries. Hence, the importance of the present initiative to study the problematic of

operated by the community members with little initial investment capital.

"The Quality of Vegetables and the Pests Control in African Urban Farming".

**1. Introduction** 

and new migrants.

and returning it to the land (Nancy Simovic, 1998).

Dembele Ardjouma1\*, Oumarou Badini2 and A. Abba Toure3

*2International Research & Development, Washington State University,* 

