The Real Danger in Nigeria’s Food Market: Agrochemical Misuse

Table of Contents

• Introduction
• Understanding Agrochemicals: Pesticides and Fertilizers
• A Lesson from the Field: Real-Life Agrochemical Misuse by Joshua Ocholi
• Health and Environmental Consequences of Misuse
• Why Farmers Overuse Agrochemicals
• Consumer Risk: How It Affects You
• What HTSF Global Is Doing to Promote Safer Agrochemical Use
• Conclusion: Awareness as the First Step
• References

Introduction

In the growing conversation about food safety in Nigeria, one silent but urgent threat continues to fly under the radar: the misuse and abuse of agrochemicals. These chemical substances, which include pesticides and fertilizers, were introduced to revolutionize agriculture, and to a large extent, they have. They help farmers fight off pests, enrich poor soils, and boost crop yields. However, their misuse whether through ignorance, desperation, or lack of regulation has turned them into hidden hazards.

Across farms, markets, and homes, the impact of improper agrochemical application is quietly building up. Farmers, in a bid to produce more food faster and with fewer losses, often apply chemicals without proper training or safety measures. Agro-dealers sometimes sell expired or substandard products. And consumers, unaware of how food is produced, unknowingly purchase fruits, vegetables, and grains tainted with chemical residues.

What was meant to help feed the nation is now threatening the very health of its people and environment. If this trend continues unchecked, Nigeria could face long-term consequences that affect everything from public health to soil fertility and water safety.

Understanding Agrochemicals: Pesticides and Fertilizers

Agrochemicals are synthetic or naturally-derived substances designed to assist farmers in managing crop production more effectively. Their primary roles include controlling pests, boosting soil nutrient levels, and preventing diseases that would otherwise devastate harvests. The two most widely used categories in Nigerian agriculture are pesticides and fertilizers.

• Pesticides are chemical agents used to control pests that threaten crops. These include:
  
  • Herbicides, which eliminate unwanted weeds competing with crops for nutrients.
    
  • Insecticides, which target destructive insects like caterpillars and aphids.
    
  • Fungicides, which combat fungal infections such as mildew and blight.
    
• Fertilizers are compounds that supply essential nutrients to plants, such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. These nutrients support everything from leaf growth to root development and fruit production.
  

When applied correctly  in the right amounts, at the right time, and using the right methods, agrochemicals can significantly improve crop health and farm productivity. They’ve enabled smallholder farmers to combat the effects of climate change, pests, and declining soil fertility.

However, the same chemicals that protect can also destroy. Over-application, poor handling, and lack of protective gear can turn agrochemicals into environmental pollutants and health hazards. Residues seep into the soil, accumulate in rivers and lakes, and ultimately enter the food chain. Without proper education and enforcement, the benefits of agrochemicals quickly become outweighed by their dangers.

Understanding how to use agrochemicals safely is not just a farmer’s responsibility, it’s a national priority.

A Lesson from the Field: Real-Life Agrochemical Misuse by Joshua Ocholi

One unforgettable case involved a farmer who emptied a full liter of Roundup (glyphosate 480g ai/L) into a single 16-liter knapsack sprayer to prepare his field for maize planting. Ideally, that amount should have been diluted across four to five knapsack loads, depending on weed growth. When I asked him why he used such an excessive quantity, he confidently replied that he wanted the weeds to dry up quickly’’

This revealed a larger issue of lack of awareness. I explained that beyond wasting money, he was exposing himself, his family, the environment, and future consumers to harmful chemical residues. His shocked reaction and willingness to change reminded me of the thousands of others who simply don’t know better.

Health and Environmental Consequences of Misuse

The overuse or wrong use of agrochemicals has ripple effects far beyond the farm:

• Health Risks: Chronic exposure to agrochemicals has been linked to cancer, kidney failure, infertility, birth defects, hormonal imbalance, skin diseases, and neurological disorders.
  
• Soil and Water Pollution: Excess chemicals leach into the soil and contaminate underground water and rivers, harming aquatic life and reducing soil fertility.
  
• Food Residues: Fruits, vegetables, and grains may carry unsafe chemical residues that are not fully removed by washing or cooking.
  

The damage is invisible but accumulative and it affects everyone.

Why Farmers Overuse Agrochemicals

Several interconnected factors contribute to this crisis:

• Lack of Training: Many farmers are not trained on proper dosages, application techniques, or protective equipment.
  
• No Regulatory Enforcement: Monitoring and field inspections are minimal, leading to unchecked abuse.
  
• Market Pressure: Farmers rush to meet market demands, hoping faster results come from higher doses.
  
• Peer-to-Peer Misinformation: Advice is often passed around informally, lacking scientific or professional backing.
  
• Substandard Products: Some agro-dealers sell unlabelled, adulterated or expired chemicals, leaving farmers guessing how to use them.
  

Consumer Risk: How It Affects You

The average Nigerian consumer is unaware of how their food is grown. If you buy produce from local markets or roadside stands, chances are you’re consuming crops grown with unregulated chemical applications. These residues cannot always be washed off or cooked away.

This is not to cause panic, but to spark awareness.

The food on your plate may be laced with harmful residues unless we act collectively to change farming practices.

What HTSF Global Is Doing to Promote Safer Agrochemical Use

At HTSF Global, we understand that the misuse of agrochemicals poses a real threat to food safety, public health, and environmental sustainability. That’s why, through our agricultural division HTSFarms, we are actively bridging the gap between farmers and the right knowledge, tools, and resources to promote responsible and effective agrochemical practices.

Farmer Training and Education

One of our core commitments is empowering farmers through structured training programs and field demonstrations that focus on the safe and efficient use of pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers. We emphasize correct application methods, dosage, timing, and protective measures all aimed at reducing harmful practices and increasing productivity responsibly.

Access to Verified Agrochemicals and Inputs

We provide farmers with direct access to genuine, high-quality agrochemicals and farm inputs through our trusted network of verified suppliers. This helps to eliminate the dangers of counterfeit or substandard products in the market, ensuring that what farmers use on their crops is safe, certified, and effective.

Expert Consultation and Agronomic Support

Beyond quality input sales, HTSFarms offers personalized consultation services to help farmers make informed decisions about product selection and usage. Our team of agronomists and advisors work closely with farmers to understand their unique challenges and guide them toward best practices tailored to their crops and local conditions.

Food Safety Advocacy and Consumer Awareness

Through our outreach and digital platforms, HTSF Global advocates for food safety across the value chain.

We are working to close the knowledge gap not only for farmers but also for consumers, encouraging more people to ask where their food comes from and how it was grown.

At HTSF Global, we believe that a safer food system starts with informed farming. By combining education, access, transparency, and ongoing support, we are committed to transforming the way agrochemicals are used  for the health of our farms, our people, and our future.

Conclusion: Awareness as the First Step

Joshua Ocholi’s story is not unique; it is a mirror of what happens on farms across Nigeria every planting season.

Agrochemicals, meant to protect crops, are now endangering lives and ecosystems due to misuse and misinformation.

We must shift focus to the real threat, the unregulated and uninformed use of pesticides and fertilizers. The road to food safety begins not only in the lab or market but at the farm, with awareness, education, and accountability.

References

• NAFDAC Guidelines on Agrochemical Use
  
• NESREA Environmental Compliance Reports
  
• Field Experience, Adamawa State (Joshua Ocholi)
  
• Department of Crop Protection, ABU Zaria – Dr. H.I. Usman
  
• FAO/WHO Joint Guidance on Pesticide Use 
• Linkedin post from Joshua Ocholi: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/isaac-ocholi-joshua-553204175_the-real-danger-in-nigerias-food-market-activity-7298636936108224512-tMts?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAAELhs60BuWHMnDUz0d-8akROU3T1CGIJLuY