Ogun State Launches Campaign To Stop Use Of Banned Agro-Chemicals

News in brief: The Ogun State government has launched a campaign to deter farmers from using banned agro-chemicals to safeguard agriculture and exports. Stakeholders praise this action as a commitment to sustainable agriculture and public health.

In a bid to secure the future of agriculture in Ogun State and enhance its agro-exports, the state government has launched an extensive campaign to caution farmers against using banned agro-chemicals, a local news source reports.

The campaign comes as a response to the alarming trend of employing prohibited agro-chemicals in the cultivation of exportable crops, a practice that could undermine the state's ambitious non-oil export agenda.

During the third-quarter committee meeting in 2023, held at the Ministry's Conference Room in Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, the Chairman of the State Committee on Export Promotion (SCEP), Dr. Olu Aikulola, vehemently condemned this practice.

He emphasised its detrimental impact on government efforts to bolster non-oil exports, highlighting the potential for international goods rejection, financial losses, and damage to the nation's reputation.

Dr. Aikulola assured stakeholders that the government would spare no effort in ensuring that the enlightenment campaign gets to all relevant parties. He further urged the Ogun State Agricultural Development Programme (OGADEP) to champion the sensitising of farmers through its extensive network across the state.

Many stakeholders commended the move by the Ogun State government as a welcome development. They say that it demonstrates its commitment to promoting sustainable agriculture and protecting the health of its citizens and the environment.