National president of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria(AFAN), Arc Kabir Ibrahim yesterday said that farmers in Nigeria needed more sensitisation to be able to make significant impact in delivering food safety agenda.
Arc Ibrahim who was among the stakeholders at a panel discussion in Abuja to mark this year’s World Food Safety said the sensitisation of farmers even become more significant to enable Nigerian properly harness agricultural potential and benefits the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
He also called on the NAFDAC, SON and the quarantine department to rise to the occasion to ensure compliance to food safety standards to ensure a healthy and more prosperous Nigeria.
He said, “The ministries of agriculture, health and many others in collaboration with WHO and FAO need to be proactive in continuous and sustainable sensitization of farmers, processors, distributors as well as consumers to avert the unfortunate losses due to down time from foodborne ailments often times leading to death of innocent children and women.
The economic losses due to foodborne diseases caused by bacteria and viruses in poorly produced, processed, stored, distributed and consumed foods are incalculable and the farmers are amenable to attending sensitisation workshops to help them embrace food safety in their activities”.
