**5. Studies on the use of alternatives to chemicals in Botswana**

Application of insecticides indiscriminately on agricultural crops can reduce or kill the natural enemies of insect pests. Continuous use of insecticides as we have already seen can also induce the resistance development in the targeted pests as well as killing beneficial nontargeted organisms. However, the detriment can also extend to human health through dietary exposure of contaminated crops. This great concern has brought about the need for alternatives to chemical insecticides that can be safe to human and the environment and at the same time affordable to farmers. Most of these natural insecticides are derived from plants and botanical insecticides, and some are of microbial type.
