In a two day training for farmers in Benin City the Edo State capital
farmers came to the conclusion that the solution to climate change and
food crises is agroecology. Health of Mother Earth Foundation ,HOMEF;
organized a dialogue and practical agroecological trainings for over
fifty farmers on how to improve the quality of their farm lands and have
a healthy farming system.
Chemical intensive Agriculture is not only harmful to the soil but
contributes to climate change and endangers the health of farmers and
the Environment. On the quest to increase soil fertility and boost
yields with the use of chemicals, farmers unknowingly endanger their
economic future and further sign into a lifetime of health problems.
Frequent exposure to chemical pesticides can cause cancer and other
neurological, immunologic, respiratory and reproductive diseases.
Programmes Manager, Health of Mother Earth Foundation,Joyce Brown
stated that the essence of the training was to highlight the challenges
farmers face and to train them on how to produce and use organic farming
inputs.
She stated that "the use of harmful chemicals and GMOs do not
solve the problems we have faced with food scarcity rather it damages
the soils and beneficial organisms.’’
Natural fertilizers do not pose
any harm to the soil, rather they nourish the soil.
Other experts at the training noted that there are some elements found
on the farm which work in harmony with the crops to withstand disease
and destroy pests.
Deputy Director of Women
Environmental Programme John Baaki noted that "Agriculture production has suffered intensive use of chemicals which is poisoning the environment,
contaminating the air and water bodies as well as the health of
farmers.’’ Baaki also said, ‘’by teaching farmers to go organic, we are
addressing the problem of chemical pollution in Nigeria's agricultural
sector.’’
In her presentation,the Deputy Director of Environmental Rights Action/ Friends of the earth Nigeria, Mariann Bassey-Orovwuje stated that farmers should not be excited when they receive unknown seeds or while using certain fertilizers which have proven to be harmful.
“We are encouraging the use of organic methods. Let us begin to ask some
questions. Are we sick because of what we consume? Farmers help to
protect nature, environment and our health. We need to consciously grow
our foods in manners that are healthy and that do not inflict harm on
the soils. To our farmers in Nigeria, we plead that we go back to our
roots and say no to GMOs."
During the practical session, farmers were trained on the production of
organic fertilizers and how to improve soil fertility for optimum
productivity. They also learned farming practices that would reduce
erosion and leaching and increasing the nutrient holding capacity of the
soil. Farmers were taught to differentiate between the different types
of organic fertilizers (manure, compost, rock phosphate, chicken
droppings) and the role each could play on their farmlands.
Some farmers shared stories of having short-term and chronic sicknesses
arising from the use of chemicals on their farmlands. The farmers also
spoke about how they are impacted by changing climatic conditions which
reduce their capacity to cater for their families. Some of the farmers
shared experiences they have had in the past with the use of chemicals
and some natural methods.
A cocoa farmer Frederick Ekrebe-Thomas shared his experience from both methods.
"The cassavas in my farm went bad after spraying with pesticides and herbicides. When I tried it on separate farms, I noticed
that the one with chemical all went bad but the one I used natural
methods produced greatly.
I have seen it from experience that a farm that is cultivated with organic inputs produces more than those using
chemicals. We farmers do not always admit that chemicals are harmful to
us. I have been trained in the past on the harmful use of chemicals and
I appreciate this training because it has further opened my eyes and
added to my knowledge."
A rice farmer , Madam Angela Victor expressed her excitement over the
training " I have been into local rice farming. The government once gave
us rice which they call "sparrow 44" with fertilizers to make it grow.
At the end instead of making profit, I lost much. At the next planting
season I decided to go back to my old rice seeds and method of farming
before now. I have learned a lot from this training and I will put the
knowledge to use."
James Osarobo-sehende who has always been into natural methods of
production, stated that he will continue to remain in that method of
farming. “I used chicken dropping when I planted pumpkins. The growth
rate was impressive. I use machine to clear weeds not the chemical to
clear like the others and I have seen the difference in our farm lands."
The farmers urged government to support farmers by providing indigenous
seeds rather than contaminating GMOs and chemicals that would destroy
their soils and harm their economies. They also asked for improvement of
rural infrastructure which will enable their products get to final
consumers and also improve their farm gate prices.
The training also addressed the issue of climate change, land degradation and conservation of our ecological systems. Ecological farming alternatives were shown to be money saving, simple to implement and simple to share generated knowledge.
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