The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security in Bauchi State has condemned the use of contact chemicals for food preservation by some farmers.
Moses Atsevgo, the Bauchi State Coordinator of the Ministry, stated this in an interview with reporters on Friday in Bauchi.
Contact chemicals are substances that act, function or produce effects upon direct external touch or surface exposure, rather than needing to be ingested or absorbed internally.
According to him, some of these chemicals, when sprayed on the grains, do not completely come off when the grains are washed. He emphasised that it is a dangerous practice that could result in food poisoning.
He said farmers have been advised to use gaseous circulation chemicals instead for food preservation.
The coordinator said Phostoxin, popularly known as “bomb,” is a recommended chemical for food preservation.
“Phostoxin should be applied while wearing gloves. The tablet should be tied properly in a piece of cloth and placed at the bottom, middle and top of a bag of 150 to 200 measures of grains, then sealed tightly.
“Another recommended preservation method is the PIC bag made in the US, which is a zero-chemical bag with about three plastic layers.
“You pour your grains into the first plastic layer and tie it, then tie the second plastic layer and the third layer.
“This bag prevents pests from destroying the grains,” Atsevgo added.
The coordinator also said that the use of moringa, neem and eucalyptus leaves as organic methods are among the safest for food preservation.
He said when the leaves are dried under a shade and placed under and over the crops, no pests will come close to the grains.
