An agriculture expert, Prof. Victor Olowe, has called for the promotion of organic farming, due to the prevalence of carcinogenic contents in crops grown with artificial fertilizers.
Olowe, the President of the Association of Organic Agriculture Practitioners of Nigeria (AOAPN), made this call in an interview in Lagos on Tuesday.
According to the Don, organic farming was a better alternative that promotes healthier nutrition and general well-being of the body, as most crops grown with artificial fertilizers have carcinogenic contents as a result of their chemical additives.
“In organic farming, we use manure in place of synthetic fertilizers. Manure of plant or animal origin is used to aid growth, instead of synthetic substances.
“Organic crops are in high demand presently because people are becoming more conscious and mindful of what they eat.
“Most artificial fertilizers-grown crops are carcinogenic, you do not want to eat food and now find yourself in the hospital.
“Going organic is a production system where food commodities, whether crops or animals, are cultivated without synthetic or artificial inputs such as pesticides, herbicides or fertilizers,” the don said.
In addition, he said “organic farming is a highly regulated crop cultivation system. It is not like industrial or conventional agriculture practice.
“Organically cultivated crops take only about two per cent of cultivated lands globally. It is a small niche in the sector.
“Presently, as small as the organic farming sector is, it is the fastest growing sector of agriculture globally, because organic crops are in high demand.
“So, people are now conscious of what they eat. They ask: “do you grow your yams or vegetable with artificial fertilizers?”
“Usually, yams cultivated with artificial fertilizers when cut open will turn red or brown and that indicates nutrients’ imbalance,” Olowe said.
In addition, he said, “it is necessary to encourage smallholder farmers to go organic.”
