Why Nigeria is spending over 268bn annually on agrochemicals – Expert

Dr Rose Maxwell, the country coordinator of the Open Forum on Agricultural Biotechnology (OFAB), Nigeria chapter, has said Nigeria spends over N268 billion on buying agrochemicals annually. Maxwell made this known while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria in Yola. The coordinator, who is also the deputy director, National Biotechnology Development Agency, said the […]

Dr Rose Maxwell, the country coordinator of the Open Forum on Agricultural Biotechnology (OFAB), Nigeria chapter, has said Nigeria spends over N268 billion on buying agrochemicals annually.

Maxwell made this known while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria in Yola.

The coordinator, who is also the deputy director, National Biotechnology Development Agency, said the development was an issue of great concern that needed urgent government attention.

“Annually, Nigeria spends about N268bn on the purchase of agrochemicals, just to control farm insects and weeds.

“This shows that annually, Nigerian farmers are pouring millions of litres of chemicals on Nigeria’s soil

“The effect of the chemicals to human health and environment is an issue of great concern,” she said.

She noted that the rampant use of agrochemicals had significantly contributed to climate change, thus causing environmental catastrophes, such as excessive heat, floods, among others.

She said agricultural biotechnology was the only solution to the menace of pests, which would sharply cut down the high cost of insecticides.

“Agricultural biotechnology is the only key solution in controlling the insects and providing natural food through the development of genetically modified crops.

It is absolutely natural and free of chemicals because it is a biological process, where important plant genes are identified, extracted and transferred to another plant for yield increase or resistance to insects and drought.

“Biotechnology will bridge the gap between conventional farming that over the years has not solved the national food security issue, and modern farming techniques that will be the answer for the programme,” she added.

She said Nigeria had developed insect and weed-resistant cowpea through agricultural biotechnology, which she noted that farmers were embracing. (NAN)