Use of human waste in sustainable crop production in Nigeria

Abstract

The constraints to agricultural production in Nigeria are varied and taken very seriously. The most important is persistent short supply of fertilizer. Farmers year in year out are ever looking for fertilizer. Farmers need fertilizers to produce higher yields about 75 percent find it difficult to get it to use in their farms, apart from the fact that fertilizer is expensive. Another important issue is the side effect of fertilizer on crop and invariably on those who consume crops grown with fertilizer. However this paper focused on the extensive evidence of the high fertility rate of human waste- urine, kitchen wastewater and excreta. Traditionally, animal dung had been used in agricultural production. These wastes are cheaper to come by and easy to get by farmers as soon as they can handle the waste. There are differences in the yield on the crops grown with fertilizer and human waste. The crops grown with human waste perform better than the ones grown with fertilizer. An alternative approach to avoid the disadvantage of conventional fertilizer is the use of human waste. The plant nutrient in both urine and excreta come from arable fields and thus should be recycled as fertilizers to support sustainability and retain fertility of the soil. Urine acts very fast and is very rich in nitrogen. Policy on the use of the technology must be promoted and awareness created to the farmers to enable them utilize the technology. Agricultural extension agents should mobilize farmers through participatory approach for the acceptance and utilization of this technology in their farms for sustainability of crop production for poverty alleviation and healthy environment.

Keywords: human waste, crop, sustainability, poverty alleviation health and environment

Journal of Environmental Extension Vol 5 2005: 65-70