NAFDAC DG Blames Poor Understanding for Pesticide Misuse

News in Brief:

— NAFDAC says poor understanding of pesticide labels and application instructions contributes to unsafe chemical use among Nigerian farmers.

— The agency calls for clearer division of responsibilities and stronger farmer education to improve food safety from the farm to the consumer.

Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, the Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), has blamed poor understanding of pesticide instructions and limited public awareness of regulatory responsibilities for some food safety challenges in Nigeria.

Speaking during an interview with BusinessDay TV on Monday, Adeyeye said many Nigerians do not adequately understand instructions on agricultural chemicals. She revealed that this included how much pesticide to apply and how long farmers should wait before harvesting treated crops.

The US-trained pharmacist further explained the respective responsibilities of NAFDAC and the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (FMAFS) in regulating food safety and agricultural chemicals.

Food Regulation in Nigeria

Adeyeye stated that food safety involves several government institutions operating at different points along the food supply chain.

According to her, NAFDAC’s primary mandate covers processed and semi-processed foods. Meanwhile, the agriculture ministry oversees fresh agricultural produce.

“From farm to fork, there are many organisations and agencies that are involved. So the oranges you buy in the market, we don’t control the oranges you buy in the market,” she said.

However, she stressed that NAFDAC still has a role in agricultural production because the agency approves, regulates and controls pesticides and other relevant products.

Pesticide Labels and Farmer Education

Adeyeye said NAFDAC works with the Ministry of Agriculture to educate farmers on pesticide safety and use. This training, overseen by the agency's Veterinary Medicine and Allied Products Directorate, covers dosage, application timing and the required period between treatment and harvest.

She argued that some farmers may misuse pesticides because they do not fully understand the instructions provided with the products.

Adeyeye also warned against the assumption that applying more chemicals will necessarily produce better results.

“We have about 56 per cent illiteracy. Sometimes our people don’t understand. And they think the more you put, the better,” she said.

Farmer Training Coverage is Limited

Adeyeye acknowledged that NAFDAC lacks the capacity to reach Nigeria’s entire farming population on its own, calling for increased participation from the agriculture ministry.

She maintained that the ministry should lead in extension while NAFDAC supports the process through its regulatory and technical responsibilities.

The longtime academic also said that she was worried that the public does not understand which government agencies are responsible for different aspects of food safety.

Adeyey's comments highlight a broader challenge for Nigeria’s food system. Safe production depends not only on regulating agricultural chemicals but also on ensuring that farmers understand and follow instructions for their use.