Post by Trade facilitator on Jun 26, 2012 21:47:29 GMT 1
UYO- The All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) Chairman in Akwa Ibom, Mr. Michael Akpan, has advised farmers to apply organic fertilisers on their crops instead of the chemical fertilisers.
Akpan, in an interview with newsmen in Uyo, said that organic fertilisers were good for human health and the farm produce harvested through its use were acceptable, even in foreign markets.
He explained that research had shown that chemical fertilisers were injurious to health and therefore urged farmers to apply organic specie as alternative.
“For the sake of our health and for purpose of exporting our farm produce, we should use organic manure.Chemical fertilisers are dangerous to health and commodities produced through its use are not good for export,’’ he said.
The AFAN chairman commended the state government for granting loan to ‘Women Agro Entrepreneurship Development Programme (WAEDEP) and appealed that the gesture should be extended to the 40, 000 AFAN members in the state.
“Right now, most of our members are farming for subsistence because there is no money to expand the scope of our farms due to labour-intensive nature of the business.
“A lot of us are ready to go on large-scale farming but we are hampered by finance,’’ he said.
He, however, expressed optimism that in spite of the challenges facing farmers in the state, “there will be pumper harvest this year”.
Commenting on the fertilisers, a lecturer at the University of Uyo, Dr Nditoi Idem, though admitted that organic fertiliser was preferred, said that the farmers needed to be educated on the application of chemical fertilisers.
Idem, who is the Head of Crop Science Department at the university, said that improper application of chemical fertilisers could be injurious to plants and animals.
“Chemical fertiliser has nitrogen as it main ingredient and nitrogen is good for the human system but when it is washed from soils into water, it can make rivers and lakes to be too rich in nutrients.
“Besides, in the soil, small plants and others can grow out of control,’’ he said, adding that farmers needed to be trained on the techniques of applying chemical fertilisers to avoid unpleasant circumstances.
Source: nigerianobservernews.com/26062012/news/Other%20News/othernews8.html
Akpan, in an interview with newsmen in Uyo, said that organic fertilisers were good for human health and the farm produce harvested through its use were acceptable, even in foreign markets.
He explained that research had shown that chemical fertilisers were injurious to health and therefore urged farmers to apply organic specie as alternative.
“For the sake of our health and for purpose of exporting our farm produce, we should use organic manure.Chemical fertilisers are dangerous to health and commodities produced through its use are not good for export,’’ he said.
The AFAN chairman commended the state government for granting loan to ‘Women Agro Entrepreneurship Development Programme (WAEDEP) and appealed that the gesture should be extended to the 40, 000 AFAN members in the state.
“Right now, most of our members are farming for subsistence because there is no money to expand the scope of our farms due to labour-intensive nature of the business.
“A lot of us are ready to go on large-scale farming but we are hampered by finance,’’ he said.
He, however, expressed optimism that in spite of the challenges facing farmers in the state, “there will be pumper harvest this year”.
Commenting on the fertilisers, a lecturer at the University of Uyo, Dr Nditoi Idem, though admitted that organic fertiliser was preferred, said that the farmers needed to be educated on the application of chemical fertilisers.
Idem, who is the Head of Crop Science Department at the university, said that improper application of chemical fertilisers could be injurious to plants and animals.
“Chemical fertiliser has nitrogen as it main ingredient and nitrogen is good for the human system but when it is washed from soils into water, it can make rivers and lakes to be too rich in nutrients.
“Besides, in the soil, small plants and others can grow out of control,’’ he said, adding that farmers needed to be trained on the techniques of applying chemical fertilisers to avoid unpleasant circumstances.
Source: nigerianobservernews.com/26062012/news/Other%20News/othernews8.html
