Feeding Abidjan at the Cost of my Health

Mondé Abdoulhassane is 29 years old and has been a market gardener for 15 years in Port-Bouët, Ivory Coast. He explains that he is forced to apply pesticides to his crops to promote their growth and protect them from insects. Although he recognizes the benefits—as he sees them—of pesticides on plants, Mondé questions their impact on farmers’ health. “After spraying, we often suffer from headaches, burning in our nostrils, and sore throats,” he says. Other market gardeners also report itchy skin and eyes. For our witness, the solution would be to have the means to obtain proper protective equipment to shield themselves from these chemicals.

Agriculture | Food | Health | Insects | Pollution | Soils Amed DOH COULIBALY