Pesticides used by some Farmers in Nigeria are Classified as Highly Hazardous.
A recent survey revealed that about 80 percent of the pesticides used by women in certain parts of Nigeria’s North-central region are extremely hazardous to human health and require additional regulation. In many cases, the products were prohibited from sale in Europe and other regions of the world. According to the findings of the survey conducted by the Small-Scale Women Farmers Organization of Nigeria and the Alliance for Action on Pesticide in Nigeria, those products fall into the category of Highly Hazardous Pesticides.
Participating in the survey were a total of 107 female farmers from the states of Nasarawa, Benue, Plateau and Abuja. The Heinrich Boll Foundation, a German environmental organization, provided support for the study. More so, Atrazine, carbofuran, butachlor, cypermethrin, dichlorvos (ddvp), endosulfan, gly sulphate, mancozeb, imidacloprid, profenofos, paraquat, and triazophos were identified as the various pesticides that were present. Women who used the products stated that they were experiencing health difficulties, and a new investigation recommends that the government regulate these chemicals.
40% of the pesticides used in Nigeria had been prohibited by the EU.
More so, in a survey that was conducted by AAPN in 2021, it was discovered that 40 percent of all of the pesticides that were used in Nigeria had been prohibited by the EU due to their high levels of toxicity. So, the purpose of the recent survey was to determine the difficulties that are caused by pests for farmers, as well as to learn more about the solutions that farmers use to deal with the issue, as well as their familiarity with traditional methods of pest control that is based on the natural environment.
To control pest problems on their farms, 94.2% of the surveyed women farmers employ synthetic chemical pesticides. 5.8% of people use no synthetic chemical pesticides at all, according to the study. It was also discovered that 75% of the women who were using chemical pesticides had health issues that they blamed on the usage of the pesticides. Breathing difficulties, nausea, headaches, vomiting, eye problems, diarrhea, skin rashes, catarrh, and respiratory issues were some of the symptoms mentioned by the interviewed women.
NAFDAC should be given the power to tackle harmful products.
The Small-Scale Women Farmers Organization of Nigeria (SWOFON) encouraged the Nigerian government to create policies governing the use of pesticides in food production in an effort to find a solution. The organization advocated for both a NAFDAC Act change and a federal pesticide control policy. They also suggested in the poll that an amendment to the NAFDAC law should allow them to immediately prohibit, suspend, revoke, and recall any licensed pesticide product with an active component shown to be extremely harmful to human beings, particularly those banned globally.
In addition to the standard labels, there is a necessity that Sections 9 and 10 of the NAFDAC Pesticide Registration Regulation of 2019 include toxicity colour codes on pesticide products. Mary Ishaya, who is the president of SWOFON, gave advice to other farmers’ organizations, telling them that they should establish methods for self-regulation on the use and sale of pesticides in the nation. According to her, this would guarantee that very dangerous pesticides that have been prohibited both domestically and globally are not utilized, advertised, or sold in the country of Nigeria.
Children and newborns are more vulnerable to harmful chemicals.
In terms of vulnerability to pesticide effects, certain people are more at risk than others. Children and newborns, for instance, are more vulnerable to the toxic effects of pesticides than adults are. Also, at a higher risk are those who work in agriculture or apply pesticides. When these chemicals are mixed with soil, they produce a gas that is harmful to the soil’s nematodes, fungi, bacteria, insects, and plants. Due to their gaseous nature, they are able to travel from the ground up into the air, putting everybody in their vicinity at risk.
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The use of ban pesticide in Nigeria should be taken seriously because some people importing this pesticide can do anything for money without been care of the bad effect on the citizens.They are concern is the money they will gain from it.
When these pesticides has been banned and flagged as high levels of toxicity some people still tade it for there own profit. The organization needs to come to the aid of people consuming the products and put a stop to the usage of such condemned pesticides.
Pesticides used by some Farmers in Nigeria are Classified as Highly Hazardous. If so government need to look for way to stop the use and the importations of the pesticides.
The sales of the ban pesticides should be stop from using since is classified as highly harzadous which affect health something needs to be done to stop all this. Introduction of the good pesticides should bee introduce
We should be very careful about the usage of pesticides. It has been confirmed that it is very toxic in nature, so we should know how we are supposed to use them. I will say such pesticides should be banned because they are very harmful to the society.
These kinds of product shouldn’t be found in Nigeria if our SON is fully functional. These are the reasons why we have increased rate of cancer cases in Nigeria. We have be exposed to these toxic substances via the agricultural products we have in Nigeria. Government should swing into action and regulate the use of these products or complete band it.
The use of these Highly Hazardous pesticide should be put in check since it is injurious to our health most especially children and newborn. Government should band the product from sale and remove them from the market.
It ought to be common knowledge by now that certain pesticides pose an exceptionally high risk to human health and call for stricter oversight from the government and ourselves.
Women who used the products that reported having health issues, and the findings of a recent investigation propose that the government regulate the chemicals in question and they should take the steps fast.
It is unfortunate to learn that the combination of these chemicals and soil results in the production of a gas that is toxic to the nematodes, fungi, bacteria, insects, and plants that live in the soil.
We are required to be aware of the fact that every single one of the pesticides that were utilized in Nigeria were illegal in the EU due to the high levels of toxicity that they contained.
The poll participants also expressed support for changing the NAFDAC law to allow for the immediate prohibition, suspension, revocation, and recall of any licensed pesticide product containing an active component shown to be extremely harmful to human health, in particular those banned internationally.
Any registered pesticide product containing an active ingredient shown to be extremely dangerous to humans, especially those outlawed globally, should be immediately prohibited, suspended, revoked, and recalled, and this should be made possible by an amendment to the NAFDAC statute.
By enforcing restrictions on 9lpesticides, Nigeria might prevent the use, promotion, and sale of extremely harmful pesticides that have been banned in other countries.
A recent assessment found that almost eighty percent of the pesticides that are utilized by women in specific sections of Nigeria’s North-central region are extremely harmful to human health and demand stricter regulation.
The current poll aimed to establish the problems pests cause farmers, as well as their remedies and expertise with natural pest control approaches.
Women who used the items reported health problems, and a new study advises regulating the ingredients.
According to Mary Ishaya, the president of SWOFON, farmers should establish methods for self-regulation on the use and sale of pesticides in the country. This would guarantee that very dangerous pesticides are prohibited.
In as much pest control is a priority for farmers to have good farm yield, pesticides flagged as dangerous should be banned. NAFDAC should be empowered to tackle these dangerous pesticides for the safety of the farmers and every consumer
If 80% of pesticides used are said to be extremely dangerous, they should be banned and further actions should be taken. Proper evaluation of these pesticides should be done before use for the safety of everyone.