Kano: The Hadejia Jama’are River Basin Development Authority (HJRBDA) has issued a stern warning to dealers, urging them to refrain from adulterating farm inputs or face legal consequences. Rabiu Bichi, the Managing Director of HJRBDA, made this announcement during a press briefing in Kano, highlighting the significant losses suffered by Nigerian farmers, particularly in the North, due to the sale of adulterated fertilizers, seedlings, and other inputs.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Bichi emphasized that the authority is set to crack down on dealers of adulterated farm inputs this season, having put mechanisms in place to identify and penalize them. He called on the public to report any such dealers to relevant authorities like the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), and HJRBDA.
Bichi warned that these fake products pose serious health risks, such as cancer, to Nigerians. He urged the public to be vigilant and report any cases of adulteration. “Such adulterated farm inputs made farmers incur losses last season and have the potential to cause diseases like cancer. This time around, we will be very vigilant to ensure good farm inputs are distributed to farmers and go after those selling adulterated ones and punish them,” he stated.
The managing director also spoke about the authority’s commitment to transforming river basin development and food security initiatives. He explained that HJRBDA is embarking on a transformative journey to boost the socio-economic development of the river basin by introducing innovative irrigation techniques and optimizing existing systems.
Bichi noted that a comprehensive review has been conducted, and specialized committees have been established to formulate a strategic action plan. He added that key strategies have been identified to enhance food production and security within the basin, aligning with the President’s emergency food security directive. “Committees have been established to promote sustainable development, strengthen food security, and improve community livelihoods,” he explained.
Bichi expressed enthusiasm for robust stakeholder collaboration to achieve these goals, underscoring the importance of collective efforts in ensuring the success of these initiatives.