The Kano State Agricultural Development Project (KSADP) and the Sasakawa Africa Project have commenced training for farmers in Kura Local Government Area on the proper application of agrochemicals to their vegetables.
The programme which is conducted by agricultural experts, also aims to educate farmers on the dangers of irregular chemical use on crops.
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One of the experts, Malam Danasabe Dangambo Karfi, the Community-Based Facilitator (CBF) of the Karfi Cluster, disclosed this to newsmen at Imawa town on Tuesday.
He explained that the exercise was prompted by the outbreak of diseases such as cancer, liver disease, and kidney disease, which are linked to the improper application of chemicals on crops by farmers.
He said these diseases were observed in Kura, Garin Malam, and Bunkure local government areas, where irrigation farming is common.
“We noticed that farmers were applying chemicals on their crops, especially vegetables, irregularly and taking them to the market in that state. This practice is very hazardous to consumers’ health.
“Before our intervention, the farmers didn’t know how to spray; they didn’t know the calibration rate per hectare or the amount of chemicals to apply per hectare. They also lacked knowledge of how much they should spend per hectare, which is very important,” he said.
This, the expert added, prompted the organization to gather the farmers under a programme called ‘Training of Trainers (TOT)’ to teach them the proper use of agrochemicals.
He further stated that they replicated the exercise at social events such as weddings and naming ceremonies, adding that positive results are being recorded.
“Thank God, the initiative is yielding positive results, as farmers are now aware of the dangers of irregular chemical use on their vegetables. The prevalence of the diseases caused by these practices has drastically reduced,” he said.
Some of the farmers, Alhaji Amadu Ibrahim Imawa and Abba Sani Imawa, commended KSADP and the Sasakawa Project for equipping them with new agricultural techniques, including the proper use of chemicals.
They confirmed that the new methods have increased their yields and made vegetables safer for consumption due to the proper application of agrochemicals.
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