Tahoua, an area of fertile agricultural valleys south of the Sahara desert, was devastated by locusts between 1986 and 1989 and again in 1992 93. The government of Niger, which is the first African government to integrate the new biopesticide into its pest control program, plans to introduce biopesticides to 300,000 hectares of agricultural land currently treated with chemicals. Private companies are expressing interest in the new biopesticide. As these companies increase production, costs are expected to decline further. Biological Control Products of Durban, South Africa is the first company to receive a license to produce the biopesticide and is now starting mass production.
Negotiations are currently under way with other manufacturers to produce it in the private sector.
Copyright 2001, Janice Limson.