Exploring the factors that influence the uptake of botanical insecticides by farmers: a case study of tobacco-based products in Nigeria

This paper presents the results of extensive experience in the development and promotion of tobacco-based insecticides for the control of field crop pests in Igalaland, Nigeria. A non-governmental organization (NGO), the Diocesan Development Services (DDS), became involved in the development of tobacco-based insecticides in the early 1990s, and facilitated a series of ‘on-farm’ trials between 1997 and 2000 designed to test the effectiveness of such insecticides for two crops that are particularly vulnerable to pest attack in Igalaland: cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) and maize (Zea mays). The results suggest that even crude tobacco formulations had a significant benefit on cowpea and maize yields relative to the absence of pest control, although commercial insecticides were more effective. However, while having advantages of cost and availability over commercial insecticides, tobacco-based products appear to have serious internal and external disadvantages that limit their widespread use, and some of these are discussed. It is concluded that while technical efficacy of botanicals is an important element, there are others such as the logistics of production and preparation that need to be considered. A better understanding of the balance between these factors and how context-specific they may be is required in order to maximize their adoption by farmers under ‘resource-poor’ conditions.