EFFECT OF PESTICIDE UTILIZATION IN SMALL-SCALE FARMING ON SURFACE WATER QUALITY IN PARTS OF GUINEA SAVANNA, NIGERIA

Abstract

The guinea savanna region of Nigeria (Niger and Kebbi States) is an arable land where people carry out agricultural activities but on most occasion with pesticide to increase agricultural production. This practice can potentially cause water quality degradation, decrease in human health and ecological degradation in the study area. Therefore, it is imperative to assess the effect of pesticides utilization in small-scale farming on surface water quality in parts of Guinea Savanna, Nigeria. The aim of this paper is to assess the effect of pesticides in small-scale farming on surface water quality in parts of Guinea Savanna, Nigeria. The water quality analysis was done using the facilities of the Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (CGEB), Federal University of Technology Minna, Nigeria. For water sample analysis, samples were taken from twenty points during the wet season and they were designated as sample X¹, X² X³, X⁴, X⁵ ….. X²⁴ all within the study area for rainy season. This was done during the dry season as well but with different naming (Y¹, Y² Y³, Y⁴, Y⁵ ……Y²⁴). Paraquat, Glyphosate, Hydrazine and Dichlorvos concentration concentration were determined using spectronic 2ID spectrophotometer (APHA, 2008). As shown in the study, surface water pollution ranked the highest with 30.4%, increased crop production ranked second with 23.4%, increased health risk ranked third with 20.3%, destruction of aquatic lives ranked fourth with 18.3% and top soil degradation ranked the least with 7.6%. This revealed that the major effect of pesticide usage on small scale farming in the study area was surface water pollution. As indicated in the study, the highest Paraquat concentration during rainy season was recorded in X^3(NGW) with a value of 1.300ml and the least was recorded in X^5(NGK) with a value of -2.330ml. The highest Paraquat concentration during dry season was recorded in X^5(NGK) with a value of 28.131ml and the least was recorded in X^2(NGW) with a value of -6.496ml. When Paraquat, Glyphosate, Copper Oxychloride and Dichlorvos concentrations of rainy season were compared with that of dry season, that of dry season has higher concentrations and reasons behind higher concentration in dry season include absent of rainfall and low runoff of water available in the small scale farms. As indicated in the study, effects of environmental spillovers of pesticides on surface water was 4.6. This revealed that the there is high toxic usage of pesticide on surface water in the study area. In conclusion, this study demonstrated urgent need for effective environmental management policies, government dedication, political wills, and collective responsibility of all stakeholders toward agrochemicals management and ensuring sustainable farming practices involving the use of pesticides and fertilizers in the area to guarantee cleaner and healthier surface water for all. It is recommended that the agriculture extension agency, environmental protection agency and other environmental stakeholders organize collaborative educational programs for farmers on the proper use, effective handling, and dangers associated with inappropriate usage of pesticides.