Environmental Health and Safety Among Farmers in Northern Nigeria

This report investigates the health and safety challenges faced by farmers in Northern Nigeria concerning the use of chemical fertilizers. The study, conducted in Abuja, surveyed farmers from the Federal Farmer Union, revealing a significant correlation between farmers' knowledge levels and adverse health outcomes. It highlights the over-reliance on fertilizers due to population growth and food security demands, and the subsequent health risks. The research employed a quantitative approach, using questionnaires to gather data and secondary literature to broaden understanding. The findings emphasize the impact of limited technical knowledge and the need for improved safety practices, addressing issues such as exposure to pesticides and other chemicals. The report also provides a detailed literature review, methodology, results, and discussion, offering a comprehensive analysis of the environmental and occupational health risks associated with agricultural practices in the region.

Running head: ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH AND SAFETY AMONG FARMERS
Health and safety challenges regarding
use of fertilizer amongst farmers in
Northern Nigeria
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH AND SAFETY AMONG FARMERS 1
II. Abstract
This study is based on the health and Safety issues of the farmers using chemical fertilizers in
the Northern part of Nigeria and the level of knowledge among the farmers as a part of the
health and safety challenges faced by them. The Study was conducted in Abuja and the
farmers of the Federal Farmer Union of the country were included as sample participants of
the study. The Purpose of this research study is to identify and evaluate the health and safety
related issue associated with the use of fertilizers application in amongst farmers in Northern
Nigeria.
The research was conducted by using a quantitative study method. A survey research design
was adopted by the researchers to achieve the selected study goals. The researchers
constructed a questionnaire and then the self-structured questionnaires were distributed
among the study participants for collecting the responses. In order to collect data the
questionnaires were distributed among the farmers and along with this, various secondary
source of literature related to this topic was considered as information in order to broaden the
level of knowledge among the farmers of the country.
The study result showed that, there was significant correlation in between the level of
knowledge and poor health and safety outcomes of the farmers in the Northern part of the
country. Apart from that, lack of adequate technical knowledge regarding this issue also
contributed to the adverse health effect among the farmers.

2ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH AND SAFETY AMONG FARMERS
III. Acknowledgement
I would like show my gratitude to my assessors and professors who have guided me to
understand the topic and complete the project. I would also like to thank my peers and family
members who have always supported me for this project.

3ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH AND SAFETY AMONG FARMERS
Table of Contents
Chapter 1: INTRODUCTION................................................................................................5
1.1 Introduction.................................................................................................................5
1.2 Background of the Study.............................................................................................7
1.3 Problem statement.......................................................................................................8
1.4 Research aim.............................................................................................................10
1.5 Significance of the study...........................................................................................10
1.6 Structure of the study.................................................................................................10
Chapter 2: Review of Literature...........................................................................................11
2.1 Review of Literature.......................................................................................................11
Chapter 3: Methodology- Materials and Methods..............................................................21
3.1 Research Question..........................................................................................................21
3.2 Design........................................................................................................................21
3.3 Settings......................................................................................................................23
3.4 Participants, Sampling Strategy and Sample Size.....................................................24
3.5 Data Collection Methods and Tools..........................................................................25
3.6 Plan of Data Analysis.....................................................................................................25
3.6 Ethical Consideration................................................................................................26
Chapter 4. : Result and Findings..........................................................................................27
4.1 Introduction....................................................................................................................27
4.2 Demographic Analysis...................................................................................................27

4ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH AND SAFETY AMONG FARMERS
4.3 Variable Declaration.......................................................................................................32
4.4 Descriptive Analysis of Variables..................................................................................34
4.5 Correlational Analysis of Major Findings......................................................................35
5.1 Discussion and Conclusion.............................................................................................38

5ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH AND SAFETY AMONG FARMERS
Chapter 1: INTRODUCTION
1.1 Introduction
The insecurity related to the foods and safety in Africa specifically in Nigeria is highly
associated with the growth of the population and the enhanced environmental threats due to
the growth of the population. Nigeria is one of the most black populated countries of Africa
and it can be stated that, the challenges regarding the environmental health and safety is
buried in the problem of high food production requirement in the country for meeting the
requirement of the population of the country. Moreover, the negative reality has again
contributed to the over dependence of the country on the chemical fertilizers as the use of the
chemical fertilizers will help in improvement of production of the agricultural crops. In many
studies, it is found that, the people of West African countries like Nigeria, are mainly
involved in the agricultural processes for maintaining their daily life. In Nigeria, it is stated
that more than 60 per cent of people are actively engaged in the agricultural sectors and 85%
of the people of the country are living in rural areas and they are mostly dependent on the
agriculture for their daily economic expenses (Boland et al. 2014). Although, a huge amount
of people are engaged in the agricultural process, still there is a huge disparities in the
production of foods and the requirement of the overall foods in the country. As a result, the
agricultural process of the country has become more dependent on the use of chemical
fertilizers for producing more crops. Almost 150 kg of chemical fertilizers are used per hector
of land in agricultural use. The over dependence on the chemical fertilizers has enhanced the
overall fertilizer use in Africa (Foning et al. 2014). According to the study of Boland et al.
(2014), it is reported that regardless the condition of the country whether it is developing or
developed country, all the countries are facing risks as a part of the use of chemical fertilizers
in the agricultural fields.

6ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH AND SAFETY AMONG FARMERS
In Nigeria, the primary source of the food supply is met by the local farmers who have
very small amount of land for of the country and since the pre-colonial days, this local
farmers who have very small amount of land for farming are the major contributor of the food
production of the country. It is expected that within the 2013, there will be approximately 30
million local farmers who have very small amount of land for farming in the country. In this
context the study of Tingem et al. (2018), highlighted the fact that the increased number of
local farmers who have very small amount of land for farming in Nigeria will eventually
enhance the pressure on the lands for enhancing the productions of crops for meeting the
requirement of foods. Apart from that, the reduced assistance of government regarding the
supply of foods to the people in the country also promotes the local farmers who have very
small amount of land for farming to search alternative ways to increase the production of the
agricultural crops as it will help to enhance the overall production of the food materials in the
country. Moreover, it is also evident that, limited lands in the country will also promote the
increase use of chemical fertilizers to facilitate food production in the country. In the study
of Foning et al. (2014) reported that, the farmers are now using the technique of slash and
burn farming techniques along with the use of chemical fertilizers for the gaining high
agricultural productions. In Nigeria, it is reported that almost 7 to 10 kg/ ha of fertilizers are
used in the agricultural fields. In a study by Adekunle et al. (2017), it is reported that, the use
of the chemical fertilizers in the agricultural fields of has greatly affect the health condition of
the farmers of the Nigeria. The study reported that, the environmental and occupational
exposures to the pesticides in the agricultural fields are highly correlated with the adverse
health effect of the farmers in Nigeria. It is reported that the most commonly used fertilizers
among the farmers of Nigeria were the herbicides (61.67 %), fungicides (20.0%) and the
insecticides (18.33%) (Adekunle et al. 2017). The study showed that, the sprayers who are

7ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH AND SAFETY AMONG FARMERS
engaged in the agricultural field work, had faced immediate symptoms after the pesticide
spraying.
1.2 Background of the Study
The use of chemical fertilizers in the field of agriculture has enhanced in a great
manner in a last few decades. In order to meet the requirement of the foods, it is very evident
that, the farmers have to enhance the production of the crops. Therefore the farmers opt for
using the artificial fertilizers or chemical fertilizers in the agricultural fields. Therefore, it can
be said that, the main challenge of the agriculture is to feed the growing population of this
world. It is expected that, by the end of the 2020, the global food production should be
doubled in order to drive the flow of food consumption in a fluent manner. According to the
study of Nganchamung, Robson and Siriwong (2017), it is reported that, the use of the
chemical fertilizers in the agricultural fields is not at all safe for the health of the
environment and as well as it affects the health of the farmers engaged in agricultural process
by using the chemical fertilizers. The recent upsurge of population and the on-going demand
of meeting the needs of foods in order to maintain the food security have encouraged the
farmers to use huge amount of chemical fertilizers as a part of the agricultural process. The
use of those chemical fertilizers help the farmers to produce more amount of crops in a same
amount of time. So, it is quite natural that, the farmers opt for the chemical fertilizers.
Therefore, another factor also encourage them to use more amount of fertilizers and that is
the use of pesticides have make the pests resistance to those known pesticides (Yargholi and
Azarneshan 2014).
In Nigeria, it is reported that, almost 70% of the Nigerian population is dependent on
agriculture for survival. Due to the enhancement of the country’s agricultural production,
there is an upsurge of various type of pests in the field and thereby requires control strategy

8ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH AND SAFETY AMONG FARMERS
for those pests as well (Apeh 2018). It is estimated that approximately, 125,000–130,000
metric tons of chemical fertilizers are used in different agricultural fields of Nigeria.
Therefore various studies showed that, there is a positive relationship in between the adverse
health conditions and the use of chemical fertilizers among the farmers of Nigeria.
1.3 Problem statement
The continuous of the chemical fertilizers in the agricultural fields is greatly affecting
the safety issues of the health of the farmers engaging in the use of chemical fertilizers in the
agricultural process of the country and it is stated that those fertilizers can exert hazardous
effect to the body while it is used in the excessive limit. Most of the studies stated about the
risks of cancer, liver failure as well as Kidney disease to be associated with the growing
reliance on fertilizer usage by farmers in developing countries like Nigeria, however future
effects may even be worse unless appropriate measures are deployed to salvage the situation.
Although the production of the agricultural products have enhanced by using those fertilizers,
but the effect of those chemicals on the human health are not controlled at all in a well
manner. According to the report to the World Health Organization, it is reported that, almost
more than three million of farmers are affected by the adverse effect of the chemical
fertilizers in developing countries of the world (Apeh 2018). According to the study of Gizaki
et al. (2015), it is reported that poor literacy rate and poor knowledge regarding the use of the
chemical fertilizers among the farmers will also another contributive factor for adverse health
effect of the farmers in the country.
Other factor that is associated with the hazards of chemical fertilizers is the issue of
urbanization in the developing countries. So, there is a specific needs of reviewing the health
and safety challenges associated with the use of chemical fertilizers in the countries that have
lack of appropriate knowledge regarding the use of those substances.

9ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH AND SAFETY AMONG FARMERS
1.4 Rationale of the Study
According to the various studies, it is reported that, the use of the chemical fertilizers
among the farmers has serious hazardous effect on the various human body system such as
human endocrine system and immune system of the human body (Chima 2015). Hence, the
researchers try to assess the adverse effects in the context of Northern Nigeria.
According to the study of Sharma and Singhvi (2017), it is reported that, use of fertilizers
in the agricultural fields can affect the circulatory system of the body by immobilizing the
blood haemoglobin of the human system. Not only this, but the those chemical pesticides are
also associated with health problems such as dizziness, abdominal pain, headache, vomiting
and nausea, skin and eye related problems as well. However, the study of Gonçalves et al.
(2014), also reported about the onset of cancers among the users of the chemical fertilizers.
According to the study of Islam et al. (2015), it is reported that deposition of pesticides in the
human bodies through the vegetables cultivated by using excessive chemical fertilizers has
direct relationship with the onset of cancers in human.
Although there are opposing opinions that the growth of recent bioorganic fertilizer
industries may result in long-lasting sustainable means for stimulating and rehabilitating
agricultural soils which could consequence a healthy as well as high crop production in
Nigeria, these position are still highly contested. Based on this issue, it can be stated that, the
study is mainly aiming to examine the thoughts of the local farmers on the use of fertilizers
application on food crops. The study will also establish whether the farmers have adequate
knowledge or not regarding the applications of fertilizers in the agricultural fields. Not only
that, but the study will also analyze the health and safety issues of the farmers due to the use
of the chemical fertilizers in Nigeria.

10ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH AND SAFETY AMONG FARMERS
1.5 Research Question
1. What are the Health and safety challenges regarding use of fertilizer in Nigeria?
2. What is the knowledge level of farmers on the safe use of fertilizers?
3. How does the Nigerian government address the issue of unsafe use of fertilizers?
The above research question will analyse the health and safety condition of the farmers
using chemical fertilizers in the agricultural fields of Northern Nigeria.
1.6 Research aim and objectives
The aim of this research study is to identify and evaluate the health and safety related
issue associated with the use of fertilizers application in amongst farmers in Northern
Nigeria. Therefore the objectives of this research are:
 To explore the possible cause of hazardous contamination in farming because of
hazardous chemical use as well as its impact and outcomes on health and
environment
 To identify the current situation of hazardous chemical usage for farming in
Northern Nigeria and associated issues or impact
 To examine the awareness and knowledge of farmers and farming associated
personnel regarding the potential hazards and results because of poisonous
chemical use in farming.
 To find the ways of mitigating these errors in chemical usage for farming in
Northern Nigeria

11ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH AND SAFETY AMONG FARMERS
1.7 Significance of the study
In this, current context, the health condition of the farmers are very crucial and not
only this, the excessive use chemical fertilizers in the agricultural field also can affect the
environment. Therefore, in order to improve the condition of the physical health due to
the adverse effect of chemical fertilizers use in the agricultural fields, the evaluation of
this fact in the Northern region of Nigeria is very crucial.
1.8 Structure of the study
In this study, there will be five chapters that comprise of introduction, literature review,
methodology, results and discussion and conclusion.