Mr Bage Bungwon, an agricultural expert, has called on farmers and grain traders to desist from using banned toxic agrochemicals to preserve farm produce that are dangerous to human health.
Bungwon, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Kaduna.
He said that there was a need for safe and responsible use of agrochemicals.
According to him, the use of such agrochemicals as approved pesticides for preserving farm produce such as beans, cocoa beans and other grains must stop.
Bungwon also appealed to chemicals’ importers to desist from storing or re-labeling expired chemicals for use, saying that such an act was also negative to crop life.
He,however, stated the need to use agrochemicals and other farm inputs to accelerate food production, especially with the nation’s growing population.
Bungwon said that the recent rise in food prices especially with cereal grains like rice, maize, sorghum, millet and cowpeas would increase the need for growing more food “in the short term.
“There is need for more sensitisation, because with the right proportion and application, there will be good yields and a healthy environment.’’
He called on grain growers and merchants, fishermen and fruit sellers to always use the correct pesticides on their products to make them safe for human consumption.