The National Orientation Agency (NOA) has warned farmers in Gombe State to desist from using hard drugs to boost their energy while working on farms.
Director of NOA in the state, Mrs Adaline Patari, gave the warning, as farmers in the state have commenced wet season farming.
Read also: Kano Govt orders investigation into death of two students at Bichi boarding school
Mrs Patari said that the act of using hard drugs or substance abuse among farm workers to get ‘extra’ strength to work was detrimental to their health.
According to her, using drugs not prescribed by doctors have dire consequences on the health and mental state of the person using such drugs.
She said, “Just as farmers are beginning to plant and engage in other farming activities, it is necessary to inform them that using hard drugs or non-prescribed drugs have negative effects on their health.
Read also: IPMAN raises alarm over imminent fuel crisis, as private depot increased prices
“Farmers in the state must work with their natural energy and not induce their food or drink to boost their energy. It is better to adopt mechanised farming by forming cooperative societies in communities than using drugs to help them farm without getting tired.”
The NOA director said that the agency, in collaboration with other relevant agencies, had been carrying out series of advocacy against drug abuse amongst youths.
She also cautioned farmers who were in the habit of adulterating milk and pudding with drugs before giving them to the children being used as labourers on their farms to enable them work tirelessly.
“If you are in that habit, it is wrong; it is child abuse to even use children on farms when they are supposed to be in school,” she said.
Read also: Police arrest 20-year-old man for armed robbery, homicide
Mrs Patari called on concerned agencies to embark on farm monitoring so as to bring perpetrators to book and make example of them.
“Communities also have a duty to ensure that youths and children in their communities do not use un-prescribed drugs in farms, as such could have effect on the community too,” she said.
