The Centre for Indigenous Knowledge and Organisational Development (CIKOD) has consequently called for the urgent adoption of agro-ecological farming practices in the local setting.
The environmental advocacy organisation said the findings should serve as a wake-up call for the government, farmers and consumers to promote safer food production systems and reduce dependence on synthetic agrochemicals.
The study, conducted in collaboration with the Ghana Standards Authority, analysed 12 samples of cabbage and okra, two of the country’s most widely consumed vegetables.
The results showed that eight of the 12 samples, representing more than 66 per cent, were non-compliant with acceptable pesticide residue limits, while all six cabbage samples tested were found to be non-compliant.
Explaining why the two vegetables were selected, the Director of Programmes at CIKOD, Wilberforce Laate, said they were chosen because of their popularity among consumers.
“We selected cabbage and okra because they are widely consumed. Across the country, people eat okra, while cabbage has become an important part of our diet through salads and other meals. We wanted scientific evidence to confirm what many people had suspected,” he said.
Health concerns
Mr Laate expressed concern that continued exposure to pesticide residues could have serious long-term public health implications if immediate interventions were not implemented.
“It will get to a time when the impact will be really damaging because we are consuming these chemicals. That is why we need to stop and promote safer agricultural practices,” he stated.
He advised consumers to, where possible, grow vegetables for household consumption using containers, buckets and backyard gardens.
“We can go back to the spirit of Operation Feed Yourself. You don’t necessarily need large pieces of land. You can grow vegetables in buckets, containers and small spaces for your own consumption,” Mr Laate added.
He also encouraged farmers to adopt biological pesticides and natural alternatives such as neem-based products instead of synthetic chemicals.
Mr Laate, however, acknowledged that farmers faced several challenges that contributed to the excessive use of synthetic pesticides.
He said issues such as economic pressure, land tenure insecurity and the need for quick financial returns often compelled farmers to rely on chemical inputs.
“I think we are not told enough about the challenges making farmers resort to these chemicals. Issues of quick money, land tenure and several other factors push farmers to use interventions that promise faster results,” he explained.
He blamed the shortage of agricultural extension officers for the misuse and overuse of pesticides.
Agroecology as an alternative
Speaking on the importance of agroecology, the Executive Director of Peasant Farmers Association, Bismark Owusu Nortey, described agroecology as a sustainable, nature-based farming system that reduces reliance on harmful chemicals while improving soil health, biodiversity and food quality.
He explained that agroecology encouraged practices such as mulching, cover cropping, composting, agroforestry, crop-livestock integration and the use of indigenous farming knowledge.
“It is a farming practice that has been used for generations. It relies on materials that are readily available within farming communities to improve production instead of depending on imported chemical inputs,” he said.
Mr Nortey explained that rather than burning crop residues after harvest, farmers could return them to the soil as mulch to conserve moisture and improve fertility, while livestock waste could be recycled as organic manure.
He said agroecology promoted the cultivation of indigenous crop varieties that were well adapted to local ecological conditions.
Commercial farming
Mr Nortey dismissed suggestions that agroecology was only suitable for smallholder farmers.
He said modern conservation machinery, specialised equipment and drone technology were increasingly supporting large-scale agro-ecological production.
Mr Nortey disclosed that the Peasant Farmers Association had begun working with the Ministry of Food and Agriculture to support the development of a national agroecology policy aimed at promoting safe agricultural practices and strengthening food safety.
Mike 105.3 FM | Navrongo | Graphic Online
