Abstract

Pesticides are crucial in ensuring agro-based countries' food security and economic development through crop protection against pest damage. However, the indiscriminate use and heavy reliance on pesticides have been linked to adverse human and environmental health impacts. These problems are generally associated with a small group of pesticides commonly regarded as highly hazardous. This study sought to establish the status of highly hazardous pesticides (HHPs) use in Zimbabwe and promote risk reduction mitigation options. A desktop assessment was conducted to identify HHPs from the Zimbabwean Pesticides Register in tandem with an investigation on farmer and pesticide retailer knowledge and attitudes. Multistakeholder consultations were carried out in 8 provinces to establish the risks and needs of the identified HHPs and to inform the development of a national risk mitigation plan. Identified HHPs constituted 7.2% of all registered active ingredients. The study recommends that HHPs, with available low-risk alternatives, be banned. Where few or no available low-risk alternatives have been identified, research and development must be enhanced. Moreover, sustainable pest management approaches such as integrated pest management and agroecology must be promoted. Awareness-raising programs should be initiated to inform value-chain stakeholders about the risks of HHPs use and promote low-risk alternatives.

Key words: Highly hazardous pesticides, risk reduction, human and environmental health.