The North-West Development Commission (NWDC) is exploring collaboration with the Global Chemical Security and Safety Consultancy on a practical farmer training programme aimed at promoting the safe use of agro-chemicals and improving agricultural productivity across the North-West region.
The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the NWDC, Prof. Shehu Abdullahi Ma’aji, received the management team of the consultancy, led by its Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Mustapha Tijani Usman, during a courtesy visit to the Commission.
The delegation presented a proposal for a Practical Farmer Training Project on Safe Use of Farm Chemicals for Optimal Production, targeting farmers across the seven states of the North-West.
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Speaking during the visit, Dr. Usman said the organisation was established to promote safety, resilience and sustainability through professional training, research, analysis, monitoring and evaluation relating to chemical use.
He said the proposed partnership with NWDC would focus on promoting safe and responsible use of agro-chemicals while strengthening agricultural production, which he described as critical to food security and stability in the region.
Making the technical presentation, the Director of Chemical Security and Safety, Mr. Buba Shanu, said the proposed project was driven by the need to retrain farmers on the appropriate use of herbicides, pesticides, fertilizers and other agricultural chemicals.
Shanu said the North-West remained central to Nigeria’s food production and that agricultural productivity was increasingly being affected by prolonged cultivation, population pressure on farmland and inappropriate application of modern agricultural inputs.
“Our farmlands have been cultivated for so long that production is running low. To boost production, our farmers have resorted to modern methods – herbicides, pesticides and special fertilizers. But not everyone knows how to use them correctly. And no matter how good a process is, if it is not done the right way, there will be consequences,” he said.
He explained that the consultancy team had backgrounds in the fertilizer industry, including experience from the National Fertilizer Company of Nigeria (NAFCON), and had undertaken advocacy on the safe use of agricultural chemicals.
According to him, their engagements with farming communities revealed gaps in farmers’ knowledge regarding appropriate dosage, handling, storage, pre-harvest intervals and personal protective measures.
He said the proposed training would adopt a practical, field-based approach and focus on rural farming communities across the seven North-West states.
Shanu said the initiative was expected to help farmers improve yields while reducing health risks, protecting the environment and preventing misuse of chemicals.
He further said inappropriate use of agricultural chemicals could have wider implications for community safety and security, making farmer education an important component of sustainable agricultural development.
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Responding, Prof. Ma’aji thanked the delegation for the proposal and said the initiative aligned with the Commission’s mandate in agriculture, food security, human capital development and community resilience.
The NWDC chief executive said the North-West occupies a strategic position in Nigeria’s food system, stressing that agricultural productivity, insecurity and youth restiveness were interconnected issues that required coordinated interventions.
He said initiatives that enable farmers to produce more safely and sustainably could contribute not only to food security but also to peace and economic development in the region.
Prof. Ma’aji assured the delegation that the Commission’s management would study the proposal and develop a workable framework for possible collaboration.
He stressed that the NWDC would prioritise partnerships capable of delivering measurable impact, improving safety and creating employment opportunities for young people and women within the agricultural value chain.
The proposed collaboration comes amid increasing attention to agricultural productivity and the need for farmers to adopt modern farming methods without exposing themselves, consumers or the environment to avoidable chemical risks.
The initiative, if adopted, would see practical training taken directly to farming communities across the North-West, with emphasis on responsible application, handling and storage of agro-chemicals as part of efforts to strengthen the region’s agricultural sector.