The President of Ghana Institute of Horticulturists (GhIH), Prof. Abubakari Abdul-Halim has revealed that the outfit is facilitating entrenched measures to help mitigate agrochemical health risks in vegetable food.
Speaking to the media during the 24th Annual General Meeting of the institution in the Ashanti Region, Prof. Abubakari hinted, the institution is aiming at setting standards on how agrochemicals can be used by farmers and other stakeholders.
According to him, the prime objective is to also ensure farmers produce more and that can be done when health risks in vegetable food and ornamental plants are properly regulated and chemically applied.
“Most of the time, farmers failed to use the chemicals and plans are far advanced to engage and dialogue with agrochemicals dealers to train farmers on the application of chemicals on their farms”.
Prof. Abubakari Abdul-Halim underscored that the outfit is focusing on agrochemical usage and for them to stay in business, farmers need to be abreast with how to accurately apply agrochemicals on their farms.
Explaining the intentions to focus on the application of agrochemicals this year, averred that, food contermination in recent days has become a concern that bothers human health and must be addressed.
Most of the time, the agrochemicals are not properly used and the outfit is looking forward to supporting agrochemical dealers to dialogue on how to support the usage of these chemicals in our vegetable food.
“This year, we are focusing on agrochemical usage and for the agrochemical dealers to stay in business, they must ensure farmers use the products safely.”To enhance all-inclusive dialogue, some farmers are members of GhIH which will help create awareness on the usage of agrochemicals. That not said, GhIH is also engaging the media in its quest to inform and educate farmers.
Prof. Abubakari Abdul-Halim estimated that GhIH shall collaborate with government agencies and policymakers like; the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the Food and Drug Authority (FDA) to help tackle the use of hazardous chemicals and the illegal activities of galamsey to reduce contamination of chemicals in vegitatiin and food.
Speaking under the theme; “Agrochemicals Usage For Enhanced Horticultural Crops Production: Our Health, Wealth And Environment”, Dr. Hillary Mireku Botey-CSIR said the urban communities are the most growing vegetable areas that rely on agrochemicals to produce but usage becomes a concern.
He added that, for the GhIH to achieve its task, farmers need to be trained to make sure they use protective gear and gloves. Additionally, SCIR-CROP has released two new tomato varieties which will be available for farmers and they are looking forward to the government to provide funds to secure more seedlings for farmers in the country.
