The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) in Bauchi State has announced plans to roll out an intensive media campaign to raise awareness among users and vendors of agricultural chemicals, particularly with the onset of the rainy season.
Speaking on Tuesday, the State Coordinator of NAFDAC, Alhaji Hamis Yahaya, said the campaign is aimed at educating dealers on the importance of sourcing and selling only genuine and quality agrochemical products.
“Part of the programme will also address key issues such as the proper storage and display of agricultural chemicals in markets.
“Exposing chemicals to sunlight can degrade their quality and cause harmful reactions. Direct sunlight can lead to a loss of efficacy, and interactions with heat may pose serious health risks,” he explained.
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Yahaya stressed the need for grassroots education on best practices, especially concerning safe usage and disposal of chemical containers.
“We want to educate sellers so that they, in turn, can inform buyers on the proper use of these products by strictly following instructions on the labels,” he said.
To ensure wider outreach, NAFDAC plans to partner with the Bauchi State Ministry of Information and engage local radio stations to disseminate messages, particularly targeting farmers in rural communities.
Yahaya further disclosed that a sensitisation exercise had already been carried out in collaboration with the National Orientation Agency (NOA) at the Soro Weekly Market in Ganjuwa Local Government Area.
“The outreach focused on major marketers and end-users and provided valuable feedback on how local farmers are using agrochemicals,” he noted.
As part of ongoing stakeholder engagement, NAFDAC recently held a meeting with the Forum of Agrochemical and Pesticide Dealers in Bauchi to discuss product registration.
“We are encouraging Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to come forward and register their products with NAFDAC, ensuring their operations remain legal and safe,” Yahaya added.
The campaign aligns with NAFDAC’s broader mandate to protect public health and promote responsible agrochemical use, especially as farming activities intensify during the rainy season.