Prof. Ibrahim Sodangi, a professor of crop production with the Kaduna State University (KASU) has described herbicides as a “huge blessing” to agricultural production in the country.
Sodangi, who specialised in weed science, said this in Kaduna on Thursday at the 8th Inaugural Professorial Lecture, organised by KASU in his honour.
He said that herbicides were chemicals used for killing or suppressing weeds, which he described as “plants that grows where they are not desired’’.
According to him, weeds remain one of the most significant threats to crop production and cause of concern among farmers.
“Some of the weeds are like witches and if not controlled reduced crop yield, quality and increase cost of production, while some are poisonous to grazing animals.
“They are aggressive competitors with crops, leading to farmers loss of 20 to 80 per cent of crops.”
He stressed that without herbicides, uncontrolled weeds would cause enormous reductions in crop yield and quality, which could lead to loss of billions of naira in agricultural revenues.
The professor pointed out that chemicals had become an integral part of modern agricultural production used in various food production method around the world including organic farming.
He said that Nigerian economy would suffer great loss and risk the outbreak of hunger without herbicides and other crop production products.
Sodangi, however, noted that persistent use of herbicides could cause soil and water contamination and adverse effects to non target organisms.
He said that in some cases, compounds that result from herbicides degradation might be toxic to the environment.
He nonetheless said that herbicides played a significant role in ensuring high crop yield and promoting food security.
The don advised farmers to strictly adhere to the instructions when applying weeds in their farms, stressing that adherence to herbicide label instructions and established safety procedures minimises hazard.
