……there may be scarcity of vegetables this year
A group, Women in Agriculture in Nigeria, has raised the alarm over possible scarcity of okro and vegetables due to effect of Roundups and other dangerous chemicals in most Nigeria soil.
The founder of the group, Mrs Eji Lovelyn disclosed this when she spoke with journalists in Abuja said over 80 per cent of okro planted in the east dried up while others were stunted and could not produce as expected.
“Most of the women farmers are facing serious challenges this year because 80% of those that planted okro have nothing to write home about, most of the okro planted did not germinate at all, and those that germinated became stunted because the land they planted it is the land being used overtime.
“But when we engaged the help of an expert he revealed that the land is toxic and can’t grow okro. He said the use of roundup was the major cause, as it is too dangerous because of the higher amount of glaphosate.
“He asked us what we have been using on the land and I said, roundup and touch down bur he said both are toxic but that Roundup is the most dangerous. He said our land has been terribly destroyed, and that the except there are rains that would wash off the chemical from the land.
“So what we are praying for now is for rain to fall strongly to wash away the chemicals because the women are helpless and done have other lands to fall back on. Even other women who are into vegetable farming can’t plant because it also affected their land,” she explained.
She said about 4000 member of the association were into rice farming just as it has a membership strength of 1.5 million.
She said her member were being trained on the effects of glaphosate, but the urge for quick money has made many to compromised,
“Most of the farmers need the money, so even when you talk to them on the risk of Roundup and glaphosate, we also get the same complaints of Roundup destructive effects because immediately you used it on your land, that land is being conditioned for what Roundup is produced for, such as rice.
“This problem will cause serious economic effect, because if we don’t have okro this year, you can imagine the adverse effects on income life of the farmers and their household. There is going to be scarcity of okro this year and those who have it will make more money,” she said.
