Adamawa Farmers Get Export Boost as NEPC Tackles Unsafe Pesticide Use
Category: Agriculture
Smallholder farmers in Adamawa State have received fresh support to improve the quality and safety of their produce as the Nigerian Export Promotion Council intensifies efforts to tackle pesticide misuse and reduce the rejection of Nigerian agricultural products in international markets.
The intervention brought together about 70 smallholder farmers from Numan and Demsa Local Government Areas for capacity building on Good Agricultural Practices and responsible pesticide management.
Held in Numan, the programme focused on an increasingly important challenge facing Nigerian agriculture: producing crops that are not only abundant but also safe enough to satisfy domestic and international quality standards.
The initiative comes as Nigerian agricultural exporters continue to face difficulties in some foreign markets over pesticide residues and other contaminants detected in produce.
For farmers in Adamawa, where agriculture remains a major source of livelihood, improving production standards could therefore mean more than safer food. It could potentially open access to more lucrative markets.
NEPC Targets Rejected Agricultural Exports
The Executive Director of the Nigerian Export Promotion Council, Nonye Ayeni, said the capacity-building initiative was designed to help farmers understand the correct handling, storage and application of pesticides.
Ayeni, represented at the programme by the council’s regional coordinator, Dr Anani Egon, stressed the importance of complying with agricultural standards if Nigerian products are to compete successfully internationally.
A major concern is pesticide residue.
Agricultural products intended for export can face rejection when laboratory tests show chemical residues above permissible limits.
Dichlorvos, a pesticide commonly associated with pest control, was specifically identified among the substances capable of creating problems when residue levels exceed acceptable standards.
Improper application does not affect exports alone.
Excessive or incorrect pesticide use can potentially contaminate food, damage soil and ecosystems and expose farmers and consumers to health risks.
That makes pesticide management both an economic and public-health issue.
Farmers Trained on Safer Practices
The Adamawa programme went beyond telling farmers to reduce pesticide use.
Participants received practical guidance covering pesticide handling, storage and application as well as personal protection and environmental safety.
The programme also emphasised Good Agricultural Practices — a broad approach aimed at improving production while protecting consumers, farmers and the environment.
Farmers were encouraged to understand that what happens at the farm level can determine whether a commodity eventually qualifies for export.
This is particularly important for crops with export potential, including sesame, groundnuts and soybeans, which are produced in parts of Adamawa and the wider North-East.
If farmers can consistently meet required quality standards, agricultural production could become an increasingly important source of income beyond traditional local markets.
Adamawa Government Backs Initiative
The Adamawa State Government also expressed support for the programme and the wider effort to improve agricultural productivity.
Officials emphasised the importance of agriculture to the state’s economy and the need to extend useful interventions to farmers across local government areas.
The government has indicated that farmers should be encouraged not only to produce more food but also to adopt practices capable of making their commodities competitive.
That distinction is significant.
Nigeria’s agricultural challenge is not simply about increasing production. Quality control, storage, processing, packaging, certification and compliance with international standards can determine whether agricultural commodities reach premium markets.
For smallholder farmers, meeting such requirements can be difficult without technical assistance.
Programmes that provide practical training can therefore help bridge the gap between traditional production and commercial agriculture.
Export Opportunity Starts on the Farm
One of the central messages from the training was that responsibility for export quality cannot be left entirely to exporters.
By the time agricultural commodities reach an exporter, contamination may already have occurred during cultivation, harvesting or storage.
Preventing that problem requires action throughout the agricultural value chain.
Farmers must understand appropriate chemical application. Aggregators need to maintain quality when commodities are combined. Processors and transporters must prevent contamination, while regulatory agencies have to ensure standards are followed.
This means successful agricultural exports effectively begin at the farm.
For Adamawa farmers seeking to expand beyond local markets, that could require changing long-established farming practices.
Push for Organic Alternatives
The training also highlighted alternatives to excessive chemical dependence.
Participants were encouraged to consider safer and more environmentally sustainable approaches where practical.
Extension specialists emphasised methods capable of reducing chemical exposure while maintaining productivity.
Organic production could become particularly valuable where buyers are willing to pay premiums for commodities produced according to recognised standards.
However, moving towards organic or reduced-chemical agriculture requires more than simply abandoning pesticides.
Farmers need technical knowledge about pest management, soil fertility, crop selection and post-harvest handling to ensure that yields and product quality are maintained.
Continuous agricultural extension services will therefore remain important.
Farmers Receive Equipment
The intervention was not limited to classroom instruction.
Participants also received agricultural equipment, including protective boots and spraying equipment, intended to help them apply some of the safety practices covered during the programme.
Protective equipment is particularly important because farmers who handle agricultural chemicals without appropriate clothing can expose themselves directly to potentially harmful substances.
Providing equipment alongside training can therefore improve the likelihood that lessons learned during workshops translate into practical changes on farms.
Bigger Opportunity for Adamawa Agriculture
Adamawa has significant agricultural potential, with farming supporting households across communities in the state.
But unlocking greater economic value from agriculture will require moving beyond production volume.
Quality is becoming increasingly important.
International buyers demand traceability, food safety and compliance with residue limits. Countries and producers unable to meet those requirements risk losing access to valuable markets.
For Adamawa, this creates both a challenge and an opportunity.
Training dozens of farmers will not transform the state’s agricultural sector overnight. The greater impact would come if similar programmes reach more producers and are accompanied by extension services, testing facilities, certification support and stronger market connections.
Farmers also need reliable information about the requirements of specific export destinations before investing heavily in production.
The NEPC intervention nevertheless represents an important step toward connecting smallholder agriculture with larger commercial opportunities.
For participating farmers from Numan and Demsa, the message is increasingly clear: successful farming is no longer only about producing a bumper harvest.
How crops are cultivated, protected, harvested, stored and prepared for the market can determine their eventual value.
If safer production methods become widespread and Adamawa farmers consistently meet domestic and international standards, agriculture could provide stronger income opportunities while protecting consumers and the environment.
That would turn pesticide management from a technical farming issue into an important part of Adamawa’s wider agricultural and export strategy.
