The Federal Government is planning to develop a framework to tidy up the agrochemical and pesticide business in Nigeria.
Ernest Umakhihe, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, stated this in Abuja at a stakeholders’ workshop on agro-chemicals handling, marketing, and distribution in the country.
Umakhihe, who was represented by Deputy Director in the department of Input use and Agro-farm Input Support Services, Ishaku Buba, said the ministry is working with the relevant house committee on agriculture to develop the framework.
According to him, the workshop, themed ‘Agrochemicals importation, production, marketing and distribution in Nigeria’, is aimed at safeguarding humanity and the environment in line with global best practices. He noted that the increase in land under cultivation in the country has been attributed significantly to the use of agrochemicals.
He added: “Despite the importation contribution of the product, some fabrics of the society have devised adulterating the products thereby causing economic loss to both end-user farmers and the genuine entrepreneurs.”
Also, the Director of the farm inputs support services department, Tunde Bello said the country’s agricultural space is predominantly dominated by peasant farmers who lack knowledge about the use of farm inputs, particularly agrochemicals, to drive the maximum benefits.
Bello regretted that agricultural production in Nigeria faces significant losses due to activities of pests, insect infections, and other diseases.
