UN applauds natural pest controls used by farmers in Mali

Cotton farmers in Mali using natural pest controls to replace chemical pesticides have been applauded by the UN’s Food and Agricultural Organisation.

A new study for the FAO, published by Royal Society in London, shows that cotton growers trained in FAO field school have eliminated 92% of their annual chemical pesticide usage relative to eight years ago.

By using “biopesticides” like neem tree extract, they have also reduced their average individual production costs. By not applying 47,000 litres of pesticides, the farmers saved almost €400,000 over the study period. Growers who have not attended training have seen little or no change in pesticide usage in the same period.