According to The East African, a report on pesticides released in Kenya has uncovered that pesticides which are banned for use in European nations, where they are manufactured, are being exported to African countries. Several international civil society groups raised alarms that farmers are using these harmful chemicals.
In countries like Kenya, forty four per cent of pesticides are the ones which are banned in Europe. In fact in 2018 and 2019, the EU and UK exported around 140,908 tonnes of pesticides which have adverse effects on humans and the environment. “Sales data shows that over 76 percent (2,353 tonnes) of the total volume of pesticides sold in Kenya equals to 195 products contains one or more active ingredients categorised as highly hazardous pesticides, proven to provide a potentially high level of acute or chronic risk to health or the environment,” said ecotoxicologist, Dr Silke Bollmohr
Unfortunately, the African market for pesticides is set to rise in annualy. For instance the use of pesticide increased in West Africa by 177 percent between 2005 and 2015.
Dr Silke Bollmohr, an ecotoxicologist stated “Over the past five years, pesticide imports in Africa have increased significantly, particularly Western and Eastern Africa. In West Africa, imports doubled in five years from 218,948 tonnes in 2015 to 437,930 tonnes in 2020. In 2020, Nigeria’s imports alone (147,446 tonnes) exceeded the total imports of Southern Africa (87,403 tonnes) and North Africa (109,561 tonnes).”
The European Union’s complete disregard for the health and safety of African nations is clearly visible here. Africa is considered as Third World which was subjected to years of injustice, brutality and trauma during colonialism. Unfortunately, the very countries which committed economic exploitation and political repression against it, continue their dominance by taking advantage of Africa’s helplessness.
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Now, when it comes to food production, we all are aware of the fact that African countries suffer from low agricultural productivity which is impacting millions of people who are victims of war, terrorism, climate change and instability, which the West has created.
In light of this, the decision by the West to continue the export of its banned pesticides, which have dangerous implications on the health of people and the environment, to African countries is shameful and cruel. This clearly shows that western countries do not consider the people of this continent as humans thus justifying their undignified behavior. This deep rooted superiority complex is a product of the colonial hangover which is still present in western minds.
It also shows the West’s lack of concern and most importantly hypocrisy as we are all aware that the US and Europe interfere in the affairs of other countries in the name of climate change. The West has used its old irrational argument of “impact on the environment” whenever any African country takes courageous steps to develop their energy, farming and automobile sectors. For instance, the US, France and Germany objected to South Africa’s plan to invest a part of the $8.5 million climate funds on its electric vehicle industry as they want it to use it in the replacement of its coal-fired power plants.
But ironically, the same West, which likes to instruct other countries on what steps they need to take to protect the environment, is overlooking the export of its pesticides to African nations which is having dire consequences on agriculture and the ecology.
We at TFI also explained how a British organisation suggested Africans consume insects in the wake of the food crisis. Yes you heard that right. In fact, it has listed caterpillars and migratory locusts as insect delicacies. Such actions only expose the heinous intentions of the US and Europe, which consider Africans as undeserving of dignity and respect.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FmTpEJIPbpI&t=3s