BY ONYEKA EZIKE
The Founder of Voice of the Farmers, Afeez Olumide Garuba, has
attributed the root causes of food poisoning in Nigeria to lack of education and awareness among local farmers regarding safe agricultural practices.
His comment followed a recent comment report on food borne illnesses by the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Salako,
The Minister had said that unsafe food accounts for more than 53,000 deaths annually, with an estimated 50 million people suffering from food-related diseases.
These staggering figures have sparked critical concerns over current food storage practices, preservation methods, and regulatory oversight.
Speaking on Villa Square, a special segment of Cr8tive 9ja, the popular weekly tourism and cultural magazine programme anchored by veteran tourism journalist Frank Meke and Bunmi Bade-Adeniji on Mainland 98.3 FM, Lagos, agricultural expert, Garuba stated that these numbers reflect a harsh reality confronting Nigeria’s food market.
He highlighted several factors driving the high fatality rate, noting that public discourse heavily favors food security over food safety.
”Many people focus on food security rather than food safety,” Garuba said.
“When food issues make the news, the conversation is almost always about failing to achieve food security, while food safety is ignored. True food safety spans from farm to table. To achieve it, farmers, logistics providers, processors, and the government must all play their respective roles across the supply chain,” Garuba added.
The agric expert raised specific concerns regarding agricultural production, pointing to the improper application of fertilizers and chemical treatments by some farmers.
According to him, “There are established guidelines for applying fertilizer to ensure a healthy crop yield.”
“However, many farmers mishandle this process. We face significant issues with chemical residues in our food, particularly in vegetables. When fertilizers or pesticides are sprayed, there is a mandatory ‘withdrawal period’, a timeframe during which the chemicals must naturally break down before harvest,” he pointed out.
”Unfortunately, due to greed and unprofessionalism, some farmers harvest their crops prematurely and rush them to the market. Unsuspecting consumers purchase these items, unknowingly ingesting dangerous chemicals that lead to severe illness,” he added.
According to Garuba, this dangerous trend extends to livestock farming, noting that many farmers inject livestock with medications or chemicals and fail to observe the required withdrawal periods before sale.
He emphasised that farmers bear significant responsibility for these failures.
”Our goal is to create robust awareness around food safety in Nigeria, moving beyond just food security. We are actively sensitizing farmers on proper storage and handling,”
“A few years ago, the Federal Government introduced a fertilizer application guide utilising the ‘Four Rs’: the Right source, the Right time, the Right place, and the Right rate. These principles empower farmers with essential knowledge,” he said.
Garuba also noted that improper chemical use carries economic consequences for producers.
According to Garuba, “It is not just about food poisoning; it is also about cost. When a farmer applies excessive fertilizer hoping to force rapid growth, they are indirectly losing money. Many farmers simply lack the proper training, and ultimately, it is the consumers who pay the price with their health.”
He urged the government, Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), and other agricultural stakeholders to collaborate on widespread educational campaigns for farmers.
He also called on regulatory bodies to strictly enforce food quality standards, stressing that “food safety is everybody’s business.”
Garuba cautioned against an over-reliance on food imports
While recommending that the country look inward to achieve sustainability in food safety, he lamented that Nigerians often undervalue their local agricultural potential
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