The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, (NAFDAC) has condemned the use of fake agrochemicals and pesticides among farmers for crops yield and preservation of poultry birds.
Mr Emeka Orajaka, coordinator of NAFDAC in Ebonyi, made the condemnation of such chemicals in Abakaliki on Thursday during a farmers forum tagged, “Best Practices to maximise profits in poultry business”.
Our correspondent reports that programme was organised by Karma Agric Feeds and Foods ltd in collaboration with the Ebonyi chapter of Poultry Association of Nigeria (PAN).
The NAFDAC Coordinator noted that there was need to purchase regulated products from verified sources to prevent health and safety hazards.
“You must apply good agricultural practices in order to achieve good profit. Anything you are doing without good practice, it will amount to nothing.
“Lack of good practice brings lots of challenges we are having in food industry, especially among the farmers.
“You can imagine when people used bad chemicals for farming and for preservation of food. Bad chemicals when used can retain in the body of plants or animals and these becomes threat to human health when consumed.
“Pesticides and agrochemical plays a significant role in agric valued chains to preserve and reduce loses and improve crop yield.
“Indiscriminate use of agrochemical is of a great concern to NAFDAC. That is why we only approve competent dealers for agrochemicals distribution.
“We must desist from such bad chemicals in our modern days agricultural,” Orajaka advised.
Mr Peace Obawo, National Sales Manager of Karma Agric Feeds and Foods ltd said the programme became necessary to educate farmer on proper use of feed and medications in their poultry.
Obawo stressed that their major aim for the programme was to enlighten the farmers on the need to maximise business profits.
He, further decried the use of counterfeit agrochemicals, noting that their company makes use of natural products including soya and maize.
One of the Poultry Farmer, Joy Egbo thanked Karma Company and NAFDAC for the programme and pledged to promote the use regulated and verified agrochemicals.