Farmers in 15 states Receive Training on Production of Bio- Fertilizer and Pesticides
By Chris Nyamtu
All Farmers Association of Nigeria AFAN has called on the federal government to initiate a policy aimed at promoting bio-fertilizers and organic farming to enhance the production of healthy food and the environment.
National Secretary of AFAN Alhaji Yunusa Halidu made the call during a one-day training for smallholder farmers on Agroecology and production of organic fertilizer in the Keffi local government area of the Nasarawa State.
The training was organized for smallholder farmers in fifteen states including Nasarawa, Oyo, Kano and Plateau to train them on how to produce organic fertilizer and pesticides using local materials.
The National Secretary of All Farmers Association of Nigeria AFAN Alhaji Yunusa Halidu stated that over time, most farmers across the country had continued to complain about the high cost of agrochemical products, especially fertilizers and pesticides as well as their adverse effects on humans and the environment.
He called on the federal government to reduce the emphasis on genetically modified crops and adopt local ways of crop production using natural resources to ensure food safety and a healthy environment.
Some of the participants Mrs Ujomu Funke from Kwara State and Mrs Omolara Ayodeji from Oyo State noted that most smallholder farmers across the country cannot afford to procure agrochemical products due to the high costs hence the need for the government to set aside substantial resources to promote bio-fertilizer and pesticides production.
One of the resource persons and Programme Manager for Communities and Culture, Health of Mother Earth Foundation, Mr Cadmus Enade noted that the agroecology system of farming which is in line with nature plays a major role in enhancing food sovereignty and sufficiency as well as climate adaptation.
The training featured a practical demonstration of how to produce organic fertilizer and pesticides using local materials including cow dung and urine, pigeon pea, pepper and leaves from nymph trees.