By Blessing Bature
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zone (SAPZ) has cautioned farmers against the excessive use of chemicals on farm products.
Speaking, Prof. Toba Anjorin, Director of ServiCom University of Abuja who is the consultant of integrated pest Management while acknowledging the importance of chemical pesticides and fertilizers in modern agriculture, emphasized the need for farmers to use these chemicals judiciously and in accordance with recommended guidelines.
Anjorin disclosed this on Wednesday in Gwagwalada during the training session of farmers on integrated pest management, saying excessive use of chemicals on farm products can pose significant risks to consumers, including exposure to toxic residues, and can also harm the environment through soil and water pollution.
He advised farmers to adopt integrated pest management (IPM) practices that combine physical, cultural, biological, and chemical controls to minimize the use of chemical pesticides and fertilizers.
“By using chemicals responsibly and adopting sustainable agricultural practices, farmers can improve the quality and safety of their produce, reduce environmental pollution, and promote sustainable agriculture”.
The Agric Productivity Officer, APO SAPZ, Haruna Maisamari Umar said, the main focus of their training program is Integrated Pest Management emphasis on IPM is driven by the need to educate farmers on the risks of excessive chemical use in their farming practices.
Umar explained, “We are training our farmers to avoid excessive use of chemicals and instead adopt cultural controls and other sustainable methods”.
The training program has already shown promising results, with 222 participants from 7 communities successfully completing the training and that yesterday another two hundred and twenty two farmers were trained, saying these participants will now serve as representatives, sharing their knowledge with other farmers in their respective communities.
“By promoting IPM practices, the program aims to reduce the environmental and health impacts of chemical use, while also improving crop yields and promoting sustainable agriculture”, he said.
