Those who plant food crops in dump sites risk spreading cancer. That is a warning by a professor of soil science at the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike, MOUAU, Abia State. This warning was given by Professor Mabel Ifeoma Onwuka to farmers against who may believe that planting crops at dumpsites may increase the volume and reduce the period of production.
That was not the only worry the professor has expressed.
She is also disturbed by the over poor soil texture in the southeast region, and she is, therefore, advocating for proactive measures to mitigate looming food insecurity.
Onwuka, who disclosed this on Tuesday during a community outreach organised in collaboration with Peri-Urban Agricultural unit of National Roots Crops Research Institute (NRCRI) Umudike, at Umuajata Olokoro, Umuahia South LGA, disclosed that some cultural practices were detrimental to soil fertility. For instance, the professor identified bush burning, population pressure, climate change, erosion, indiscriminate use of fertilizers, among others as major factors that affect the soil negatively and lead to poor yields.
So, why is she warning against planting at waste dumpsites? Speaking from a position of scientific knowledge, she explained that the presence of heavy metals like mercury (Hg), lead (Pb), chromium (Cr), and thallium (Tl), among others would be absorbed by crops so planted and that this may lead to cancer and other health conditions.
Prof. Onwuka also decried the recent exponential increase in the price of sundry food items, enjoining Nigerians to grow some of the crops they consume. She demonstrated to the women on how to convert their domestic and agricultural waste into organic fertiliser, urged Abia farmers to take advantage of MOUAU community service outreaches to boost food production.
Onwuka, who lamented the inability of the rural women to access fertilisers, said that the essence of the rural outreach to farmers was to extend new research innovations in order to boost food production in Abia and Nigeria at large.
