For Nigeria to attain food security, there is the need for proper pest control on all agricultural produce both during production and storage stages by all stakeholders in the value chain.
Ogun Commissioner for Environment, Mr Ola Oresanya stated this while declaring open a one- Day workshop with the theme “Modern Pest Management Practice in Enviromental Health” put together by the Ogun State Ministry of Environment in conjunction with the Pest Control Association of Nigeria PECAN.
He said until all the stakeholders put their heads together to fashion out acceptable pest control mechanism that will take into consideration our cultural and environmental health values,it will be difficult for the country to attain food security as pests attack will continue to have devastating effects on our agricultural output as thereby reducing the tonnage of food available thereby resulting in food unavailability and security.
Oresanya therefore recommended the use of biological pest control instead of the presently popular chemical pest control as they have risks inherent in their importation and application.
According to him, prior to the advent of chemicals, there were ways God created biological control through ecological balance where plants are used to control pests infestation which he said are not only natural but safe.
Oresanya therefore urged participants to further study nature and exploit the eco-balance for effective pest control rather than relying on chemicals whose quality are sometimes doubtful and their applications subjective.
While describing Pest Control Association Of Nigeria PECAN which launched its Ogun state chapter during the workshop as key in environmental health management of any nation, Oresanya charged members to purge themselves of quakery as their assignment are not only knowledge-based but competency-related as any slip from them can be fatal to the society.
Responding,the National President of PECAN, Olakunle Williams commended the Ogun state government for hosting the workshop saying it would go a long way in safeguarding public and environmental health while Dr Olusegun Ogunyanwo in his presentation titled “People and Environment”said the regular collaboration between government, regulatory bodies and associations would ensure improvement and effectiveness of pest control regulations which would have salutory effects on environmental health of the populace as well as food security of the nation.
