Health concerns have taken centre stage in Oyo State as farmers intensify calls for a ban on the importation of chemical fertilisers and agrochemicals, citing growing risks to human health and the environment.
The demand came during the first phase of a youth-focused training programme organised by the Youth in Agroecology and Restoration Network (YARN), where 120 youths and women farmers were trained in compost and biopesticide production in Ibadan.
Participants at the event linked the rising cases of illness among Nigerians—especially young people—to the consumption of food produced with chemical inputs, warning that urgent action is needed to safeguard public health.
The training, funded by AgroecologyFund and themed *“Project: Seeds of Change – Youth Mobilising for Food Systems Transformation,”* aims to equip young farmers and women smallholders with skills across the agroecology value chain.
Held at Ijaye Town Hall, the programme drew participation from several farmer groups and organisations, including the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Oyo State chapter; the Small Scale Women Farmers Organisation of Nigeria (SWOFON); and other local farming communities.
Speaking at the event, the Coordinator of SWOFON in Akinyele Local Government Area, Mrs Olusola Ayinde Tukur, urged the Federal Government to prohibit the importation of chemical-based agricultural products.
She warned that such inputs are doing “more harm than good,” linking them to a rise in diseases and health complications among Nigerians.
According to her, chemicals used in crop and livestock production ultimately enter the human body through food consumption, contributing to illnesses such as cancer and diabetes, particularly among children.
“We are what we eat,” she said, stressing the need for safer, more natural farming practices. She also called for a return to traditional farming methods that relied less on synthetic inputs.
Other farmers, including Mrs Oluremi Oyetunji and Hamed Kamilu from Oyo Town, echoed the call for government intervention, urging authorities to promote compost manure through incentives and policy support.
They maintained that chemical fertilisers and pesticides not only degrade soil quality but also pose risks to crops, livestock, and human health.
In his remarks, the Onijaye of Ijayeland, Oba (Alhaji) Abdul-Azeez Akano—represented by the Babaloja of Ijayeland, Deacon Olaniyi Oyebamiji—commended the initiative, describing it as enlightening and timely. He called for its expansion across the state to reach more farmers.
Earlier, resource person Paul Chukwuebuka provided both theoretical and practical training on compost production and biopesticide formulation, emphasising the health and environmental benefits of organic farming.
He noted that synthetic fertilisers have negatively impacted public health, underscoring the need to adopt safer alternatives such as compost manure.
Also speaking, YARN’s Officer in Charge of Field Projects and Land, David Ojebola, revealed that the initiative would be implemented in three phases, with participants drawn from Ido, Akinyele, and four local government areas in Oyo Town.
He urged the government to prioritise agroecology as a pathway to achieving food security and sovereignty, while also calling for more training and support for smallholder farmers.
Ojebola further encouraged participants to apply the knowledge gained from the training, noting that incentives would be provided to support their transition to sustainable farming practices.
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