Plant Protection Products Use and Regulatory Compliance in the Nigerian Cowpea (Vigna Unguiculata) Value Chain: Prospects for Lifting the EU Ban

Purpose: This study aims to identify the plant protection products (PPPs) currently used by stakeholders across the Nigerian cowpea value chain and assess how these practices relate to the ongoing export ban. Methodology: Structured questionnaire consisting of open-ended and closed-ended questions was used to deduce the prevailing factors that are potential impediments to the adoption of the Integrated Pest Management strategy and GAP in ten states identified to be the highest cultivators of cowpea in Nigeria. The data obtained were analyzed using cross-tabulation with Chi-Square tests and Cramer’s V to examine association between certain factors and pesticide use. Findings: Results showed significant associations for decision factors (X2(7) = 55.0, p < 0.001, V =0.46) and source of information (X2(3) = 12.1, p = 0.007, V = 0.22), while farm size showed no significant relationship. Overall, findings suggest effective but inefficient influence of relevant regulatory authorities on the adoption of integrated pest management (IPM), while reliance on conventional pesticides was observed to be significantly influenced by farmers and pesticide vendors due to the availability and effectiveness of conventional pesticides. Unique Contribution Theory, Policy and Practice: The outcome of the survey identified gaps in the availability and effectiveness of alternatives to hazardous Plant Protection Products (PPPs) and substantiates the need to engage in prospective research that utilizes optimized and sustainable techniques in valorizing potential bioresources into safer and equally effective pesticides; a feasible approach to facilitating the lifting of the current ban.