By Fatima Muraina

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Worried by the increasing rates of adulterated agricultural inputs in circulation, Ondo state government has collaborated with agro dealers with a view to curbing its sales across the state.

The State Commissioner for Agriculture and Forestry, Mr Olayato Aribo made this known during  a meeting with the Executives of West Agro Input Dealers Association WAIDA on registration of agro dealers in  the  state yesterday.

Aribo appreciated the leadership of the team over synergy with the state government to curtail the menace

The state Chairman of WAIDA, Mr Dele Oguntiloye described the registration as a welcome development considering the high number of  of people selling adulterated products which negatively affects agricultural produce.

Oguntiloye raised the importance of training people  on  sales of agrochemicals, saying they are just like extension agents who educate farmers on the application so that they can have a bumper harvest.

” NAFDAC has already trained some of us because we are just like extension agents because people buy chemicals from us and we educate them on how to use them.

” Before you can do that, you must have attended a training and the state Ministry must certify you as an agro dealer,” he stated.

Oguntiloye who observed that wrong application of chemicals affects the output of farmers.

He advised farmers to use the right measurement for the best results.

The Administrative Secretary of the Ondo state Agricultural Input Supply Agency AISA, Mr Adeola Akinyugha expressed satisfaction on the development which he said will allow for the control and monitoring of activities of Agro dealers in the state.

While calling on Agro dealers to follow suit in getting their organisation registered with the state, Akinyugha disclosed that any adulterated and fake agro dealer caught will be apprehended and made to face the wrath of the law.

” We will start monitoring to ensure that fake agro chemicals input sale is eradicated in Ondo state,” he added.

Explaining further, Akinyugha said according to the amended bill, it approved the ministry to monitor, control and standardise the activities of the agro dealers.

His words:” The essence is to ensure that every legal Agro dealers selling inputs in the state registered with the state government with a view of phasing out those selling adulterated inputs like those who sell rat killers because they are all illegal sellers.”