High cost of pesticides threatens beans farms in Katsina

The high cost of pesticides is threatening beans farming in Katsina State.  Pesticides are among major inputs required in beans cultivation, especially to prevent pests from attacking the crop at the stage of flowering.  A farmer, Malam Abdullahi Nuhu Kankara, said many peasant farmers cannot afford pesticides this year, considering the economic situation of the […]

The high cost of pesticides is threatening beans farming in Katsina State. 
Pesticides are among major inputs required in beans cultivation, especially to prevent pests from attacking the crop at the stage of flowering. 
A farmer, Malam Abdullahi Nuhu Kankara, said many peasant farmers cannot afford pesticides this year, considering the economic situation of the country. 
“Last year, we bought cypermethrin 10% EC (Best) at N800 per litre but now it costs N2,000 and there is tendency that the price could escalate in near future,” he said. 
“Many of the farmers are peasants who cannot afford the high cost of the product, especially as the crop requires to be sprayed at least five times with the chemicals for quality produce,” he added. He said the situation may likely affect the volume of beans harvest this year as many farmers could only spray the crop once or twice to save cost despite the consequence. 
However, another farmer in Bakori, Muhammad Sulaiman, said many farmers were buying the chemicals “because they are optimistic about the high market value of farm produce this year.”
He said those that harvested their maize or rice “are not hesitating to buy the chemicals at the exorbitant price,” adding: “Because they have profited from the sale of their farm produce this year, they can afford the cost of the chemicals.” 
He said only those who planted beans were finding it difficult to buy the chemicals. 
“Those who planted only beans this year are becoming frustrated with the high cost of the pesticides to the extent that they are threatening to abandon the crop without spraying,” Sulaiman said. 
An investigation carried out by Daily Trust revealed that a pesticide, ‘Profenofos 40% + Cypermathrin 4% EC’ (Sharp Shooter) of Shandlong Keyuan Chemicals Ltd China was sold last year at N1,200 per litre but, this year, it costs N4,000. 
Similarly, a flower booster of the same company called Maxicrop, sold at N350 last year, now costs N800. 
The most popular pesticide among beans farmers is called BEST (Cypermethrin 10% EC) of Meghmani Organics Limited India. Last year it was sold at N800 per litre but costs N2,000 this year.
An agrochemicals dealer in Bakori, Alhaji Rufa’i Yellow, said the development was caused by the high exchange rate of the naira to US dollar, pointing out that the chemicals were imported either from China or India.
“FOREX is the major factor in the price hike of agrochemicals this year as they are imported either from India or China,” Yellow said.
He said to check the situation, local ago companies needed to start producing quality chemicals to substitute foreign brands.
“We have all it takes, in terms of manpower, raw materials and know-how, to produce these agrochemicals in Nigeria, especially now that agriculture is fast becoming a lucrative industry,” he said.