Against the misuse of agrochemicals by farmers, some experts are stressing the urgent need for improved advocacy efforts concerning the growing damaging effects of improper agrochemical usage on both human health and the environment.
The experts made the call in separate interviews on Monday in Lagos, urging for more proactive measures to address this pressing issue.
“The advocacy must begin by identifying fake and adulterated agrochemicals from the original ones,” said A fellow at the National Agriculture Extension Research Liaison Services (NAERLS), Dr Ismail Olawale, urged local farmers to patronise only duly registered agro-dealers.
According to Olawale, in the advocacy against fake and adulterated agrochemicals and inputs, farmers need to be encouraged to patronise designated official distributors of the inputs.
“Farmers should stop going to the open market to buy agrochemicals and other agro-inputs. They should not buy from unregistered distributors of agrochemicals who do not have addresses.
“One common mistake farmers make is the purchase of expired agrochemicals. Expired herbicides, fertilisers and general agro-inputs are even more dangerous than adulterated ones.
“These expired agrochemicals can destroy any farmland. The adulterated ones will only not work,” he explained.
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According to the expert, farmers should purchase agrochemicals as cooperatives and not individually because when they buy together, they are likely not to buy adulterated ones.
“The agrochemicals companies and dealers should also engage in consistent advertisement from time to time to educate the farmers.
“They should also collaborate with the extension service providers to educate the farmers in identifying fake, adulterated and expired agrochemicals.
“They should organise seminars, workshops, and community meetings around agrochemicals in collaboration with extension services to sensitise the farmers,” the expert said.
On his part, the National Secretary of the Nigeria Agro-Input Dealers Association (NAIDA), Mr Isiaka Ayoola, urged the farmers to relate with only trained agro-dealers.
“We advise all farmers to buy their agrochemicals from trained and registered dealers.
“We have a lot of trained and untrained agro-dealers across the country. Some do not know the rules, regulations and international best practices in marketing agrochemicals.
“The trained agro-dealers will explain in detail to the farmers the specification of each agro-input, they can also explain to the illiterate farmers the content of each agrochemical they purchase,” Ayoola said.
In addition, he noted that “Agro-dealers can play extension service roles by educating the farmers on agrochemicals usage.
“We also organise workshops and seminars for the farmers via their associations.
“From time to time we go to the farmers’ associations and educate them on the right use of agrochemicals.”
NAN
