Oyo farmers advocate review of agrochemical use, promote organic alternatives

…as group trains 120 youths on compost, biopesticide production

By Adeola Badru

Farmers in Oyo State have called on the Federal Government to review the importation and use of chemical fertilisers and other agrochemicals, expressing concerns about their possible impact on human health and the environment.

The concerns were raised during the first phase of a training programme organised by the Youth in Agroecology and Restoration Network (YARN), where 120 youths and women farmers were trained on compost and biopesticide production in Ibadan.

Some participants at the event linked what they described as rising health challenges to the consumption of crops produced with chemical fertilisers, although such claims remain subject to scientific and regulatory evaluation.

The training programme, funded by AgroecologyFund and themed “Project: Seeds of Change – Youth Mobilising for Food Systems Transformation,” is aimed at equipping young farmers and women smallholders with skills across the agroecology value chain.

Held at Ijaye Town Hall, the programme attracted farmers’ associations and organisations, including representatives of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Oyo State chapter, the Small Scale Women Farmers Organisation of Nigeria (SWOFON), and other local farming groups.

Speaking at the event, the Coordinator of SWOFON in Akinyele Local Government Area, Mrs. Olusola Ayinde Tukur, urged the government to take stronger regulatory measures on agrochemical products, which she believes may have negative effects on health and soil quality.

“They should review the importation of chemical-based products. In our view, they are doing more harm than good,” she said.

Tukur also encouraged a shift toward safer and more sustainable farming practices, emphasising the importance of food safety and environmental protection.

Similarly, other farmers, Mrs. Oluremi Oyetunji and Hamed Kamilu from Oyo Town, called for increased government support for the use of compost manure and other organic farming inputs through incentives and awareness programmes.

They advocated policies that would promote sustainable agriculture while safeguarding soil health and food quality.

In his remarks, the Onijaye of Ijayeland, Oba (Alhaji) Abdul-Azeez Akano, represented by the Babaloja of Ijayeland, Deacon Olaniyi Oyebamiji, commended the organisers for what he described as an enlightening initiative.

He urged that the programme be extended to other parts of the state to educate more farmers on the benefits of organic fertilisers.

Earlier, a resource person at the training, Paul Chukwuebuka, guided participants through both theoretical and practical aspects of compost manure and biopesticide production, highlighting the role of organic farming in sustainable agriculture.

According to him, there is a growing need to explore alternatives to synthetic fertilisers, including compost-based solutions.

Also speaking, the Officer in Charge of Field Projects and Land at YARN, David Ojebola, said the project would be implemented in phases, with participants drawn from communities across Ido, Akinyele, and parts of Oyo Town.

He encouraged greater attention to agroecology as a pathway to improving food systems and strengthening food security.

Ojebola also urged participants to apply the knowledge gained from the training on their farms in order to benefit from future support initiatives by the organisation.

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