Osun Farmers Warned on Fake Pesticides

By KUNLE SANNI,
Friday, September 16, 2005.

COCOA farmers in Osun State have been warned to be wary of fake cocoa pesticides now flooding the markets.
The state Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources

Mr. Akin Titiloye gave the warning while fielding questions from newsmen in Osogbo. Titiloye said reports reaching the ministry showed that assorted cocoa pesticides were being sold to unsuspecting farmers at a very cheap price. The commissioner said some farmers who had fallen victims of the fake cocoa pesticides had experienced adverse effect on their crops, animals and even their bodies.

Titiloye advised farmers to obtain genuine cocoa pesticides from the ministry or from the state’s Agricultural development Programme, or from the farmers congress. Titiloye urged farmers in the state to immediately contact the ministry or the agricultural extension offices nearest to them to confirm the genuineness or otherwise of cocoa pesticides.

He warned those marketing fake cocoa pesticides to desist from their sales, saying that anyone caught would face the wrath of the state government.