Why misuse of plastics and agrochemicals should be avoided – Experts – Features – The Guardian Nigeria News – Nigeria and World News

The continuous use of highly synthetic agrochemicals with their adverse health effects among farmers has sparked a heated debate among stakeholders who have advocated for minimal use of these chemicals.

Recently, experts have linked the incidence of cancer, kidney failure, reproductive system dysfunction and other life-threatening diseases among Nigerians, especially youths, to the abuse of these chemicals.

At a stakeholder consultation meeting on the 2025 Agriculture Budget held recently in Abakalaki, Ebonyi State, stakeholders called on government at all levels to begin developing a safe, sustainable food strategy that would ensure reduction to the lowest level, namely consumption Chemicals in agriculture by 2050.

To achieve this, the federal government must develop a safe, sustainable food strategy that reduces the use of highly toxic synthetic chemical pesticides by 50 percent by 2030, by 25 percent by 2040 and by a maximum of five percent by 2050.

They also called on the government at all levels to increase public investment in agriculture to provide strong support to farmers in their transition to agroecology.
They noted that increased investment in agriculture will lead to an increase in agricultural GDP to at least 6 percent and help end food insecurity in the country.

Prof. Fadlullah Olayiwola Issa, Agricultural Extension Specialist at the National Agricultural Extension and Research Liaison Services (NAERLS), told The Guardian that there are several similar cases across the country due to this threat, pointing out that while many have been affected -reports; Others have not been diagnosed to recognize the “exploitation” of this menace just as it continues to silently kill Nigerians.

Prof. Olayiwola said all categories of Nigerians were at risk as they consumed all the produce from the farms. “You know chemicals wouldn’t kill you instantly, we all consume chemicals. When you eat vegetables, you eat chemicals, even green vegetables. The reason for this is that there are rules regarding the use of chemicals. If you spray chemicals today, …” The rule states that you cannot harvest or consume it for the next seven days.

“But a lot of farmers are pressured when they get there and don’t tell them they sprayed it yesterday so they’ve used some of the chemical and one day it won’t be fatal.

“Today, when you see various health cases in hospitals, you may not know the causes. The man might say that he doesn’t eat anything synthetic, but only eats raw farm products that still die from cancer or kidney disease. We all consume it because farmers don’t follow guidelines on spraying chemicals.”

Beyond the direct consumption of the chemicals through agricultural products; The Guardian learned that people could also absorb the chemicals through eating meat. It has been found that agrochemicals sprayed on products such as animals cannot be consumed by humans as they require certain days to be ready for consumption.

Prof. Olayiwola noted that some farmers not only consume the chemicals directly but also indirectly by smoking and eating while spraying. “Some also spray against the wind, that’s a basic rule; You need to understand where the wind is blowing and spray accordingly so you don’t touch it. Some of them use the agricultural chemical containers for domestic use, which is wrong; It is said to be damaged after use.”

A crop specialist from the Institute for Agriculture Research (IAR), Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, Kaduna State, Prof. Rabiu Adamu, who confirmed that pesticides are often toxic to humans, said nine highly persistent pesticides – Aldrin, Chlordane, DDT , Dieldrin, Endrin, Heptachlor, Mirex, Toxaphene and Hexachlorobenzene have been officially banned for agricultural use.

He regretted that some of them are still being sold openly in Nigeria while some are smuggled or even donated by some “caring” donor countries. “Sometimes the pesticides were donated while their use was still permitted, but a combination of excessive donation and poor logistics or scheduling results in delays in receiving the pesticides at the point of need and yet they remain “obsolete” while in stock are, people still use them.”

Prof. Adamu reiterated: “Depending on the species and class, pesticides can contribute to neurological, respiratory, immunological and reproductive health problems in the short term, as well as cancer, immune system damage and increased risk of disease.”

“These unintended consequences may apply most acutely to pesticides – such as insecticides, fungicides and herbicides – many of which are known to be toxic to humans, particularly when overapplied or used without appropriate protective equipment.”

He disclosed that there is ample evidence of inadequate education on pesticides leading to widespread misuse in Nigeria, noting that cases of overdose have been reported as common for one reason or another. “Even among government or agency-trained and supported smallholder farmers, far more pesticides than required are used, with the general expectation that this would result in faster killing of crop pests.