Kwara raises alarm over antibiotic abuse in farms, homes

The Kwara State Government has raised concerns over the misuse and abuse of antibiotics on farms and in homes, describing the practice as one of the biggest threats to human and animal health.

Speaking at a three-day training workshop on integrated pest management (IPM) and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) control for farmers in Ilorin on Thursday, the state Commissioner for Livestock Development, Oloruntoyosi Thomas, said the misuse and abuse of antibiotics could lead to antimicrobial resistance, “which is making life-saving drugs ineffective for both man and animal”.

“Two silent threats are facing our food system today. The first is the indiscriminate use of pesticides that kills not just the pest, but the pollinators, the soil, and the farmer. The second is more dangerous — the misuse and abuse of antibiotics in our farms and homes, which is making life-saving drugs ineffective for both man and animal,” she said.

Thomas, who oversees the Ministry of Agriculture, said AMR was now globally recognised as one of the biggest threats to human and animal health. She added that integrated pest management was the best approach to reducing the chemical burden on the environment while ensuring bumper harvests.

“This workshop is, therefore, not just another training. It is a ‘One Health imperative’. The health of our crops, our livestock, our environment and our people are linked together,” she said.

The commissioner also urged stakeholders in the livestock business, particularly farmers, to adopt preventive measures before resorting to treatment. She advised them to prioritise cultural, biological and mechanical pest control methods before using chemicals.

“To our veterinarians, animal scientists and agro-dealers, you should prescribe responsibly. Stop over-the-counter sale of antibiotics without diagnosis,” she said, calling on stakeholders in livestock and animal health to promote the rational use of antibiotics in their communities.

Also speaking, the project coordinator of the Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project (L-PRES) in Kwara State, Olusoji Oyawoye, urged participants to share the knowledge gained at the workshop with members of their communities.

He said the knowledge would help make their businesses more profitable, farms more sustainable and food safer for Nigerians.

“Whatever animal products we eat affect human lives indirectly. Some animals have some defects or residual antibiotics that may affect humans. If animals are sick, they interact with human beings and they can be sick also. You cannot separate environment, animals and humans due to interaction. If one is not doing well, it can affect the other,” he said.