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An Environmental Justice Perspective on Smallholder Pesticide Use in Sub-Saharan Africa

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Bibliographic Details
Title: An Environmental Justice Perspective on Smallholder Pesticide Use in Sub-Saharan Africa
Authors: Isgren, Ellinor, Andersson, Elina
Contributors: Lund University, Faculty of Social Sciences, Departments of Administrative, Economic and Social Sciences, LUCSUS (Lund University Centre for Sustainability Studies), Lunds universitet, Samhällsvetenskapliga fakulteten, Samhällsvetenskapliga institutioner och centrumbildningar, LUCSUS, Originator
Source: The Journal of Environment & Development. 30(1):68-97
Subject Terms: Social Sciences, Other Social Sciences, Samhällsvetenskap, Annan samhällsvetenskap, Agricultural and Veterinary sciences, Other Agricultural Sciences, Environmental Sciences and Nature Conservation (including Biodiversity), Lantbruksvetenskap och veterinärmedicin, Annan lantbruksvetenskap, Miljö- och naturvårdsvetenskap (Här ingår: Biodiversitet), Other Agricultural Sciences not elsewhere specified, Övrig annan lantbruksvetenskap
Description: Pesticide use is increasing in many parts of sub-Saharan Africa, and many smallholders purchase, handle, and apply toxic pesticides with inadequate equipment, knowledge, and technical support. Through the frame of environmental justice, this literature-based study analyzes characteristics, impacts, and drivers of smallholder pesticide use in sub-Saharan Africa, with particular attention to Uganda as a case. We find that market liberalization, poor regulation enforcement, and persistent neglect of agricultural extension place the burden of risk largely on farmers, while perceived necessity of pesticides and the elusive nature of impacts (especially under conditions of insufficient monitoring) likely delay social mobilization around pesticides. The environmental justice frame, which has seen limited application in smallholder contexts, importantly helps delineate future directions for research and practice. It is particularly effective for redirecting focus from highly limited managerial solutions for “safe use” toward deeper problem drivers and solutions capable of tackling them.
Access URL: https://doi.org/10.1177/1070496520974407
Database: SwePub
Description
Abstract:Pesticide use is increasing in many parts of sub-Saharan Africa, and many smallholders purchase, handle, and apply toxic pesticides with inadequate equipment, knowledge, and technical support. Through the frame of environmental justice, this literature-based study analyzes characteristics, impacts, and drivers of smallholder pesticide use in sub-Saharan Africa, with particular attention to Uganda as a case. We find that market liberalization, poor regulation enforcement, and persistent neglect of agricultural extension place the burden of risk largely on farmers, while perceived necessity of pesticides and the elusive nature of impacts (especially under conditions of insufficient monitoring) likely delay social mobilization around pesticides. The environmental justice frame, which has seen limited application in smallholder contexts, importantly helps delineate future directions for research and practice. It is particularly effective for redirecting focus from highly limited managerial solutions for “safe use” toward deeper problem drivers and solutions capable of tackling them.
ISSN:15525465
DOI:10.1177/1070496520974407