Agriculture
Expert Cautions On Packaging Of Products
Food manufacturers have been cautioned against the use of plastic containers to package products.
A renowned agriculturist in Rivers State and Managing Director of Ngobet Agro-Allied and Investment Limited, Port Harcourt, Dr. Dagogo Atokimagha, said food and drinks stored in plastics collect chemicals such as Bisphenol A (BPA), which has been linked to some health problems.
Speaking with The Tide, last Thursday in Port Harcourt, in an interview on the storage of food and its health implication, Atokimagha said BRA, widely used in plastics and as a lining for cans to preserve things such as soup, fruit to sardins has been linked to heart disease and cancers.
According to him, “for industrial purposes, BPA is used to make plastic containers strong and lightweight for use as water bottles and many other uses, helps extend the shelf life.
“It is also a major ingredient in epoxy resins, which among other uses, help extend the Shell life of canned foods.”
Atokimagha, a businessman cum scholar, said there were ongoing local studies which suggest that people are exposed to BPA through consumption of food in plastic containers and cans. Canned foods had the highest levels of the chemicals.
He said BPA, used in a variety of consumer items such as microwave oven dishes, often seeps from containers and enters the bodies of humans.
The expert said some grocery manufactures were using BPA in food and beverage packaging because it is cheap.
He called on the government to discourage food and plastics manufactures, particularly, Indian companies to shift from using BPA in food packaging to other materials.
A lot of Nigerians, Atokimagha observed, were non susceptible to health problems because of patronage of food in cans and plastics.
He called on government at all levels and its agencies to conduct regular screening of food for toxic chemicals, adding that if this is done, they would be able to detect patterns which would help food manufacturers decrease the number and levels of toxic chemicals in the food products they offer Nigerians.
Atokimagha further stressed that though BPA had harmful effects, it is safe for use in some products, noting that companies have to prove the safety of chemicals before using them to package food products.
Although BPA prevents parasites from entering a food container, Atokimagha noted that it had the tendency of interacting with food components, adding that at certain temperature, the consequence is harmful to consumers.
He explained further that there were some discoveries suggesting that there are health effects at lower levels than those thought to be acceptable.
The agric expert, however, urged companies in food manufacturing service sector to seek the approval of the regulatory agencies before using any chemicals in the production process.
This, he noted, was necessary to check possible introduction of harmful toxic substances into the packaging process.
Atokimagha maintained that, “according to the American Food and Drugs Administration (FDD), 20 per cent of the American diet comes out of cans, and many of those have an epoxy liner made with Bisphenol A, a chemical which can mimic human estrogen and which is linked to breast cancer and early puberty in women.
He added that exposure to hormone disrupting chemicals such as BPA (Bisphenol A) can be reduced significantly by eating fewer foods packaged in metal cans or plastics, according to a new report from the Breast Cancer Fund (BCF) and the silent Spring Institute (SSI), United States of America (USA).
He stated that studies have shown that people who eat more meals prepared outside the home have higher levels of BPA, adding that to reduce exposure, experts advise on cooking more meals at home with fresh condiments.
Bethel Toby
Federal Government and the Ogun State Government, on Wednesday, distributed farm inputs to farmers as part of effort to address food security challenge.
The State Director, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Dr. Toyin Ayo-Ajayi, during the flag-off ceremony of Inputs Redemption Under The National Agricultural Growth Scheme-Agro Pocket (NAGS-AP), in Ogun State, disclosed that beneficiaries of the gesture were primarily rice, maize and cassava farmers across the State.
Ayo-Ajayi commended the Ogun State Government for partnering with the government at the centre for the effort in supporting farmers with inputs that would bring about yieldings for local consumption and likely exportation.
She noted that government is supporting rice, cassava and maize farmers with inputs worth N212,000; N189,000 and N186,000 respectively.
The Permanent Secretary in the State Ministry of Agriculture, Mrs Kehinde Jokotoye, who represented the Commissioner in the Ministry, Bolu Owotomo, stated that traditional farmers are critical in food production, hence the need to encourage and support them with inputs that would bring about desired results during harvesting.
Owotomo said: “Let us make good use of this opportunity, so that the success of this phase will make farmers benefit more from the state and federal governments of Nigeria.”
Earlier, State Coordinator, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Dr. Oluwatoyin Ayo-Ajayi, appreciated the present administration for partnering with the federal government for the initiative, adding that the programme is designed to support farmers at the grassroots level in cassava, rice and maize with inputs such as, seeds, pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers, to boost their production and enhance their livelihood.
The Niger State Government has mapped out 10,000 hectares of farmland in Gbapo Community of Katcha Local Government Area of the State for smallholder farmers to benefit from the state government’s agricultural intervention programme.
Two thousand out of the 10,000 holders of the farmlands have already received inputs.
At a flag-off ceremony in Yinti Village, the facilitator of the programme, Shinkafan Nupe, Malam Idris Usman Makanta, assured the farmers of increased distributions to the mapped-out ten thousand (10,000) farmlands if farmers respond positively.
He explained that the commencement of the two thousand is to measure the positive response of farmers before obtaining full-scale support.
Malam Makanta stated that this initiative aligns with the farmers’ initial commitment through Niger Foods, whose mission is primarily geared towards establishing efficient and profitable agricultural businesses to support the present administration of Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago’s quest to boost agricultural productivity in the state.
He also commended Niger Foods for their steadfastness and resilience in the effective implementation of the input financing scheme.
Makanta reiterated the commitment of the State Governor in making judicious use of the arable land in the state.
Shinkafan Nupe, therefore, urged the farmers to support the Governor by using the inputs wisely so that the dream can be actualised.
The Gombe State Government has empowered a total of 573,429 farmers and entrepreneurs under the 4th phase of the GO-CARES programme.
The programme was officially flagged off by Governor Inuwa Yahaya in another major step towards alleviating poverty and supporting the state’s vulnerable populations.
The Governor, while inaugurating the disbursement in Akko Community of Akko Local Government Area, restated his administration’s commitment to the welfare of vulnerable citizens in the state.
He was represented by the Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Salihu Baba Alkali, who is also the Chairman of the Steering Committee on GO- CARES implementation.
“The 4th phase of GO-CARES will directly and indirectly impact a total of 573,429 citizens across the state. Of these, 152,429 individuals will benefit directly through cash transfers, livelihood grants, agricultural inputs, and operational grants to small businesses”, he stated.
The Governor added that, “421,000 people will be indirect beneficiaries through infrastructural projects such as classroom blocks, healthcare facilities, WASH services, and rural infrastructure projects like culverts and drainages”.
Yahaya, reaffirmed his commitment to ensuring that the state’s most vulnerable citizens are not left behind in the state’s development.
According to him, “Earlier this year, on June 25, 2024, we flagged off the distribution of improved seedlings, fertilizers, and herbicides to less privileged farmers in Malam Sidi, Kwami Local Government Area, signaling the commencement of the 4th phase implementation of GO-CARES under Result Area 2”.
The Governor reiterated that these initiatives have had a significant impact on the livelihoods of beneficiaries and the overall agricultural sector.
He explained that, “Today’s ceremony marked the simultaneous launch of activities under all three GO-CARES Result Areas for the 4th phase. These areas include: State Cash Transfer Grants: 2,500 direct beneficiaries; Labour Intensive Public Works: 2,700 direct beneficiaries; Livelihood Grants: 10,000 direct beneficiaries; and Basic Services: 405,000 indirect beneficiaries”.
