Study reveals over half of Gambian farmers suffer pesticide poisoning annually

By Hadram Hydara

Over 50% of farmers and agricultural workers in The Gambia suffer from unintentional acute pesticide poisoning each year, placing the nation third-highest in West Africa, a landmark study has revealed.

Published in the journal Frontiers in Public Health and commissioned by the Pesticide Action Network (PAN), the global report estimates that 51.5% of Gambian farm workers experience acute chemical poisoning annually, amid growing regional health concerns.

Across West Africa, Burkina Faso recorded the highest regional incidence at 83.8%, followed by Nigeria at 69%, with the six-nation average standing at nearly 49%. Globally, the research indicates that approximately 46% of all farmers—over 400 million people—are affected by pesticide toxicity each year, leading to an estimated 11,000 fatalities.

“Now that the scale of suffering has been revealed, farmers must be supported to access safer alternatives to protect their health and that of their families,” said Dr Sheila Willis, Head of International Programmes at PAN UK.

Agricultural experts and health advocates across the region are calling for immediate government intervention, urging an outright ban on highly hazardous pesticides and a rapid shift toward safer, organic alternatives.