Dr Lloyd Larbi, a Pest and Vector Control Lecturer at the University of Environment and Sustainable Development in Somanya, has said rabbit urine and neem extract are effective natural pesticides for managing pests on farms.
He said organic pest control methods such as rabbit urine and neem extract offered farmers a safer and more affordable alternative to synthetic chemicals, which he noted could harm human health, damage the environment, and reduce beneficial insect populations.
He made the remarks in an interview with the Ghana News Agency on the sidelines of the launch of the 2026 Community Development Challenge competition at UESD in the Eastern Region.
Dr Larbi said organic farming remained important because it relied on natural processes and avoided the use of synthetic chemicals and fertilisers.
“Now we have come to realise the effect of these synthetic products on the environment and even on human health,” he said.
Adding, “Research has revealed that these synthetic chemicals can be carcinogenic, while some are also neurotoxic, meaning they can affect our nervous system and even lead to birth defects.”
He explained that synthetic chemicals could also harm the environment by destroying beneficial plants and insects.
He said farmers should focus more on organic options and prioritise the use of natural products to control pests.
“Some of these natural products include neem extract. Extracts from neem plants can be used as pesticides that control many of the pests that may damage our crops, especially vegetables,” he said.
The lecturer added that rabbit urine is also an effective natural pesticide and encouraged rabbit farmers to collect and store the urine for agricultural use.
“These are organic substances coming from living organisms, so they don’t persist in the environment for a long time, which is why they are very good compared to synthetic chemicals, which can stay in the environment for years, pass through the food chain, and reach the human body system,” he explained.
He added that farmers may apply the rabbit urine directly to crops or mix it with garlic and pepper to make it more potent against pests.
