GAIDA worried about illegal agro chemical dealers

The Ghana Agro Input Dealers Association (GAIDA) has expressed worry about the saturation of the industry with illegal agro chemical dealers in the country, a situation the association says poses danger to farmers and society in general.

Pastor Amartey Bower Tetteh Solomon, the President of GAIDA, said an inspection by the association to some major markets in the country revealed poor and reckless handling of agro chemicals; a situation he said was injurious to society since the chemicals could harm the users and the public.

He said what the association noticed was the display of agro chemicals in vehicles, on bicycles and in the open market by illegal dealers trying to woo customers, this he said contravenes the Environmental Protection Agency’s regulations, and called on the agency to act swiftly to save the public from harm.

Pastor Solomon spoke to the GNA during an inspection tour to some agro chemical stores in the Tamale metropolis to check on the handling of agro chemicals by its members.

He said due to periodic training, its members had been made aware of the dangers of the chemicals they were selling, hence abided by quality standards thus avoiding the associated risks, adding that, “There are so many people selling agro chemicals these days who do not have a license to sell and know nothing about the chemicals, and as such could poison the public”.

Pastor Solomon cited a situation where an entire family died after eating beans that was stored with illegal chemicals as an example of the dangers of illegal agro chemical dealers, stressing that the illegal chemical dealers also take away a chunk of the market share of the registered dealers, and appealed to EPA to act soon.

Alhaji Nashiru Kadiri of the Apex Farmers Organization of Ghana (APFOG), also told the GNA that there was a low turnout for agro dealers this year because of the drought that occurred in some parts of the country, adding that the country was threatened with food insecurity since farmers may not get good yields.

Mr. Patrick Appulah, President of the Seeds Producers Association of Ghana, advised farmers to patronize chemicals such as weedicides and fertilizers to improve their yield.