Abuse of agrochemicals: A silent lethal observe by smallholder farmers

It was the late Bahamian Evangelist, Dr Myles Munroe, who as soon as stated: “When purpose is not known, abuse is inevitable.”

This expression aptly illustrates the present growth within the Northern Region the place some smallholder farmers are concerned in the usage of agrochemicals like pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers with out complying with security and safety measures.

This poses a severe risk not solely to their well being and setting but in addition to the long run prospects of Ghana’s meals safety and sustainable agricultural practices.

These practices are generally recognized and prevalent amongst smallholder farmers, who’re seemingly naive in regards to the implications of their actions regardless of repeated cautions.

One can partly attribute their actions to ignorance and the failure on the aspect of the regulatory authorities to make sure strict compliance with the really useful tips for the usage of the merchandise.

These merchandise, purposely produced to spice up agricultural productiveness, have additionally discovered their method into houses the place some folks reuse the containers to retailer elements like salt, pepper, and oil.

Another widespread harmful observe is the improper disposal of agrochemicals; a growth the place farmers dispose the used containers in water our bodies, which doesn’t solely threaten human and animal well being but in addition the setting.

Background

Agriculture stays the spine of Ghana’s financial system, offering livelihoods for about half of the inhabitants and serving as a crucial contributor to meals safety, employment and overseas alternate earnings.

The World Bank estimates that agriculture contributes about 21 per cent to Ghana’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) with the crop sector being the most important, contributing round 82 per cent.

There is transformative revolution of the sector, partly due to the usage of agrochemicals, which has opened the floodgates for importation of extra merchandise to boost the cultivation of crops and the management of weeds and pests.

In 2020, as an example, Ghana’s agrochemicals imports had been valued at round $234.72 million {dollars}, a notable enhance from $154.21 million in 2019.

This uptick displays about 20 per cent rise in imports between 2015 and 2020, indicating rising reliance on pesticides, fertilizers and soil conditioners to assist excessive demand crops equivalent to maize and rice.

A current survey performed by the Ministry of Food and Agriculture signifies that over 50 per cent of smallholder farmers within the Northern Region don’t comply with the really useful tips for agrochemicals utility, while many resort to utilizing extreme quantities, believing that greater doses will improve effectiveness.

Alarmingly, about 65 per cent of farmers surveyed, responded they utilized chemical compounds with out correct protecting gears equivalent to gloves or masks, exposing themselves to dangerous toxins.

The realities of those unhappy growth are widespread within the area, which require pressing consideration to rescue the numerous farmers, who’re concerned within the observe.

What are Agrochemicals?

Agrochemicals are merchandise used primarily in agriculture to boost crop development, defend vegetation from pests and illnesses and enhance yield.

These merchandise could be categorised into pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, and fertilizers.

Their unregulated use can pose severe threats to human well being, crop manufacturing and the setting.

Implications of unregulated use of agrochemicals

Dr Bukari Samuel Kando, the Medical Superintendent, Assemblies of God Hospital at Saboba within the Northern Region, in an interview with Ghana News Agency, stated publicity to agrochemicals may trigger pores and skin irritation, rashes and different dermatological issues.

He stated persistent publicity to these chemical compounds additionally resulted in reproductive well being problems, together with beginning defects, miscarriages and infertility.

Dr Kando known as for enforcement of environmental safety laws to guard farmers and the setting from these dangerous results.

Dr Korbla Edwin Akley, a Soil Microbiologist and Soil Health Scientist on the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research-Savanna Agricultural Research Institute, stated indiscriminate disposal of weedicide containers may have vital detrimental influence on the soil, thereby affecting human well being, soil fertility and the general ecosystem.

Impact of indiscriminate use of agrochemicals achieve Sustainable Development Goal-2: Zero Hunger

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDG-2) seeks to finish starvation, obtain meals safety, enhance diet, and promote sustainable agriculture by 2030.

Dr Joseph Xorse Kugbe, an Agronomist on the Department of Soil Sciences, University for Development Studies, stated that could possibly be achieved if Ghana adopted extra sustainable agricultural practices together with regulating the indiscriminate use of agrochemicals.

While agrochemicals may increase yields briefly, their long run overuse usually resulted in decrease productiveness attributable to soil exhaustion and pest resistance, he stated, including that it additionally created a cycle of dependency that was neither sustainable nor aligned with the mandate of SDG- 2.

He famous that agrochemicals’ manufacturing and utilization had been usually linked to greenhouse gasoline emissions, which exacerbated local weather change, resulting in erratic climate patterns, harming meals manufacturing and undermining the SDG- 2 deal with ending starvation.

Guidelines on the usage of agrochemicals in Ghana

Mr Michael Afranie, an Assistant Director, Ministry of Food and Agriculture, Department of Plants Protection and Regulatory Services, instructed the GNA that Ghana was a signatory to worldwide conventions just like the Rotterdam Convention, which regulated the importation and use of hazardous chemical compounds.

He talked about that the Pesticide Control and Management Act, 1996 (Act 528) had been handed to make sure the registration of all pesticides earlier than they could possibly be marketed or utilized in Ghana.

The Plants and Fertilizer Act 2010 (Act 803) had additionally been handed to control the manufacturing, importation and distribution of fertilizers and agrochemical merchandise.

Recommendations

Whilst it’s a truism that the usage of agrochemicals can’t be fully abolished within the agricultural panorama, it is very important strike a collaboration between the federal government and different businesses to supply coaching on the right utility, storage and disposal of those chemical compounds to minimise environmental and well being dangers.

For occasion, educating farmers on the best way to interpret product labels and comply with tips relating to doses and intervals will assist to minimise abuse of the merchandise.

It can also be necessary to encourage the usage of natural fertilizers, organic pest management strategies, and crop rotation to scale back overly reliance on chemical compounds.

There is the necessity to strengthen regulation and monitoring mechanisms to curb the gross sales of unapproved or counterfeit agrochemicals by means of strict enforcement of laws.

The Government should facilitate the deployment of extra agricultural extension officers to information farmers on accountable agrochemicals utilization.

Consideration have to be given to the imposition of big fines, revocation of license, or imprisonment of these caught abusing the merchandise to function a deterrent to others.

By Solomon Gumah

Source: GNA