Farmers have been strongly advised to exercise caution in the use of chemical herbicides to control weeds, as excessive application may jeopardize crop health and pose significant risks to human life.
Dr. Shuaibu Mohammed, an agricultural expert and lead resource person at a recent advocacy event in Chibiri, Kuje Area Council of Abuja, emphasized that overuse of herbicides not only threatens the survival of crops but also endangers farmers through potential exposure to carcinogenic and other harmful substances.
He made this assertion while addressing hundreds of rural farmers and cooperative members at a sensitization outreach organized jointly by the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) and the Farmers Home Foundation (FHF).
Dr. Mohammed encouraged participants to adopt responsible farming practices, especially when working with chemical inputs, noting that improper usage could undermine the very goal of increasing food production.
The awareness programme, spearheaded by the Youth Agro-business Scheme (YES) department of IITA, focused on educating women and youth groups in rural areas about modern farming techniques. The initiative aims to boost crop yields and combat the growing food scarcity affecting many parts of Nigeria.
At the event held behind the Women Centre in Chibiri, participants were taken through various sessions on how to maximize harvests through improved seed varieties and the use of FADAMA (lowland) areas for rice cultivation. The event drew over twenty farmers’ cooperatives from the region.
Dr. Chioma Ofonagoro, founder of Farmers Home Foundation and the advocacy programme’s lead facilitator, called on participants to embrace the modern techniques being taught to boost productivity and profitability. According to her, the time had come for farmers, especially in rural communities, to modernize their methods in response to the worsening food supply situation.
During a brief interaction with journalists, Dr. Ofonagoro lamented the difficulties NGOs face in collaborating with local authorities due to bureaucratic bottlenecks and the inaccessibility of political office holders. “The wall around our leaders is simply too high. Until politicians prioritize agriculture and farming over politics, our food security challenges will only get worse,” she warned.
The advocacy programme comes at a time when food prices continue to surge in many urban centres across the country, largely due to low farm outputs and insecurity. In response, the IITA and FHF have launched a nationwide enlightenment campaign to reverse the trend.
Representing the traditional leadership of Chibiri at the event, Elder Samson Ibrahim, the Sarkin-Noma (Chief Farmer) of the community, echoed calls for stronger government intervention in the agricultural sector. He appealed to both the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Administration and the Federal Government to provide timely access to essential farm inputs such as fertilizers, tractors, and improved seedlings to enable farmers make the most of the rainy season.
Elder Ibrahim further stressed the urgent need for authorities to tackle the menace of roaming cattle herders, whose frequent invasions of farms have led to crop destruction, farmer displacement, and reduced food availability. He linked the current spike in food prices to this growing insecurity and urged the government to act swiftly.
