benzodioxathiepin-3-oxide is still a pesticide of choice for most cocoa farmers in Southwestern Nigeria, in spite of its persistence, bio-accumulative, toxicological properties and restriction. A single-treatment of 1.4 kg ai/ha (0.5% ai) of technical grade endosulfan (Thiodan, 35EC) was applied to 0.0227 hectare of cultivated Theobroma cacao L. (Cocoa) farm at the Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria (CRIN). Levels of parent endosulfan (α-, β-endosulfan) and major metabolite (endosulfan sulfate) were determined in vegetation and surrounding matrices at days 0, 7, 14, 21, 28, 42 and 60 using GC-MS. Their kinetic variables were determined. Order of ∑endosulfan distribution at day 0 was: dry foliage>fresh foliage>bark>pods>soil (0-15cm). No residual endosulfan was found in cocoa seeds and sub-surface soil (15-30 cm). Low residual levels in pods on day 0 may be due to endogenous enzymatic breakdown, with αisomer more susceptible and α/β-endosulfan ratio being 0.90. Fell dry foliage as mulch was predominantly the receiving matrix for non-target endosulfan sprayed. Volatilization was key in endosulfan dissipation between days 0 and 7 from foliage surfaces (> 60% loss), while dissipation trend were bi-phasic and tri-phasic for vegetation and soil respectively. ∑endosulfan loss at terminal day ranged between 40.60% (topsoil) and 99.47% (fresh foliage). Iteratively computed half-lives (DT ' 50) ranged from 6.48-30.13d for ∑endosulfan in vegetation. Endosulfan was moderately persistent in pods-a potential source for cross contamination of seeds during harvest. Iteratively determined DT ' 50 and initial-final day DT50 are highly correlated (R=0.9525; n= 28) and no significant difference (P=0.05) for both methods.

This study investigated the compliance of marketers of agrochemicals with the approved and banned cocoa pesticides in selected cocoa producing states of southwest Nigeria. Primary data was collected through the use of structured questionnaire administered to randomly selected agrochemical marketers. All the marketers (100%) were aware of the recently banned cocoa pesticides, however, majority still have the pesticides in stock. About 70.6% of the marketers in Osun state and 58.8% in Ogun state stated that they did not receive information on the banned pesticides from government agencies but through other channels. More than half of the marketers (52.9% in Ogun, 55% in Kwara and 47.1% in Osun) strongly disagreed that government should place a ban on pesticides. Availability of banned pesticides in their stock, insufficient information from the concerned government agricultural agencies, and fear of short supply of approved pesticides are among the reasons proffered by the marketers for not supporting the ban of pesticides. Relevant government regulatory agencies should conduct a comprehensive inventory of pesticides offered for sale by the marketers of agrochemicals. There should be massive public awareness programme, and wellcoordinated association for all the marketers of agrochemicals. Agrochemical manufacturers should translate instructions and warnings on pesticide labels to local languages understood by the farmers.