A don, Prof. Kolawole Adebayo, has restated the need for responsible use of agrochemicals in preservation of agricultural produce.
Adebayo, a professor of Agriculture at the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Lagos.
According to him, they are safe chemicals that can be applied to preserve agricultural produce which must be applied according to directions.
“We have different preservation methods to prevent agro-produce from being damaged. We have different physical methods in preservation of agro-produce.
“The point is that farmers and food processors must imbibe the act of safe use of agrochemicals in agro-produce preservation.
“Some agrochemicals approved by the World Health Organisation are safe for preservation of agro-produce.
“The thing with safe chemicals is that they have a lifespan that must be adhered to strictly when applying them to the produce.
“Before such produce is consumed, the chemical must be allowed to outlive its span,” the don said.
Adebayo also noted that temperature controlled preservation of agro-produce was the best method of preventing damage of food.
He advised farmers and food processors to consider human health above profits in the preservation of agro-produce.
“We can preserve agro-produce through controlled temperature during storage. We can either apply cold or dry storage in the preservation of harvested crops.
“Once some foods are properly dried and stored in airtight containers, these produce are good to go and it is probably the best means of preservation.
“Beyond that temperature controlled preservation method, there are safe chemicals that can be added to preserve agro-produce,” Adebayo said.