The Organic Fertiliser Producers and Suppliers Association of Nigeria (OFPAN) has urged farmers to adopt organic practices in food production to ensure food safety and promote healthy living.
The association said organic farming would help safeguard grains and other farm produce from weevils and pest invasion without exposing consumers to health risks.
The President of OFPAN, Alhaji Adams Musa, made the call in an interview with newsmen on Friday in Abuja.
Musa reacted to a viral video showing the use of cement to preserve beans, describing the practice as dangerous and harmful to human health.
He said the use of substances such as cement, calcium carbide and other chemicals for food preservation posed life-threatening health risks, including cancer, organ failure and acute poisoning.
According to him, these substances are not food-safe and contain toxic heavy metals.
Musa explained that cement is a construction material and not a food preservative, noting that it contains corrosive and abrasive chemicals, including alkaline compounds such as lime.
“Even small quantities of cement are highly toxic and can cause chemical burns to the mouth, throat and stomach,” he said.
He added that ingestion could lead to stomach damage, poisoning and, in some cases, hardening of cement in the gastrointestinal tract, resulting in fatal obstruction.
The OFPAN president added that such practice was a major factor responsible for the rejection of Nigerian agricultural produce in international markets.
He urged farmers and other perpetrators to desist from practices that damage soil quality and endanger human health.
Musa described organic farming as safer and more sustainable than inorganic farming, which relies heavily on chemical fertilisers and pesticides.
According to him, organic farming eliminates the need for hazardous chemicals such as carbide, cement and other substances in crop preservation.
“Organic farming boosts food production, improves soil health and protects grains from pests through the use of organic soil enhancers and fertilisers tailored to specific crops,” he said.
Musa called on the government and relevant stakeholders to intensify sensitisation of farmers and the public on the health and economic dangers of harmful preservation practices.
He urged the government to organise workshops and symposiums to educate farmers and other stakeholders on safe farming and food preservation methods.
Musa noted that some individuals engage in such practices out of ignorance, adding that sustained awareness would help reduce the trend to the barest minimum.