Promoting Organic Botanical Pesticides for Sustainable Agriculture: A Solution to Pesticide Misuse and Environmental Toxins

Abstract: The application of synthetic pesticides in agricultural activities is alarming with various implications to the health of human beings and the environment. Organic botanical pesticides are made from plants, making them the best option as compared to synthetic chemicals since they are environmentally friendly and have negligible toxic content. The purpose of this research is to assess the efficacy of organic botanical pesticides in the management of pests, especially on the nematodes and the mealybugs affecting the fig and mango trees using Abba organic pesticides oily extract of Cymbopogon schoenanthus (L.). It has also been observed that there has been a great success in the reduction of pest incidence as well as enhanced plant health from using organic pesticides hence underpinning its usefulness in an organic agriculture production system. However, some adoption barriers that the authors noted included higher costs, slower results, and poor awareness among farmers. The paper recommends changes in the policies, providing financial motivation, and increasing training concerning the application of organic botanical pesticides. Keywords: Organic botanical pesticides, sustainable agriculture, pest control, environmental conservation, organic farming