A survey conducted by the Human Care and Maintenance Foundation (HUCAM), a non-governmental organisation in the Tano South District, showed that vegetable farmers in the area use high agro-chemicals on their crops.

The survey conducted by the NGO in 2012 which promotes food security in the district revealed that most of the farmers had no knowledge in the application of the agro-chemicals, and apply them haphazardly, thus poisoning vegetables and river bodies in the area.

This was made known by Ms Evelyn Bema Darkwa, Executive Director of HUCAM, at a stakeholders’ meeting and capacity building workshop for vegetable farmers in the district, at Bechem. It was organised by the NGO with support from the United Nation Development Programme (UNDP), and attended by 450 vegetable farmers in the district.

The workshop was aimed at developing the capacity of local farmers in integrated pest management and the best alternative farming practice for sustainable agriculture.

Ms Darkwa said though the application of agro-chemicals and pesticide had a significant role in food production and prevent vector borne disease on crops; improper application turned to poison the crops.

She said most of the farmers in the district are into tomatoes, pepper, garden-eggs and okro production, and haphazardly applied the agro-chemicals to fatten the growth of the vegetables without considering the health implication.

Ms Darkwa said with assistance from the UNDP and other partners the NGO had initiated a project aimed at promoting organic farming in the district. The project, which started last year, was piloted at Techimantia, Subriso and Derma, and it was currently being scaled up in the district.

The objective of the project is to raise awareness on the effects of the wrong use of chemicals and persistent organic pollutants, and to also support the farmers to adopt organic farming in the production of vegetables.

Ms Darkwa said under the project, all agro–chemical sellers, law enforcing agencies, school children and 300 vegetable farmers in the district would be sensitized on proper use and disposal of approved agro–chemicals.

At least 300 vegetable farmers would also be trained in safety agro–chemical application and education as well as integrated pest management techniques, she said.

Mr Godfred Dwamena, Tano South District Director of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA), appealed to the farmers to heed the advice from the extension officers and adopt good farming practices.

He advised them to use organic manure, which is affordable and improved on productivity.