Nigeria leads West Africa in organic agriculture promotion – ECOWAS

By Ebere Agozie

The Head of the Agriculture Division of the ECOWAS Commission, Abuja, Mr. Ernest Aubee, said Nigeria was the leader in promoting organic agriculture in the African region of the ‘Where is.

Aubee said this in her closing remarks at the cocktail party on the activities of the Reporting Back Achievements of Ecological Organic Agriculture (EOA) Initiative in Nigeria for the years 2014-2020 and the awards ceremony, at Abuja.

He said Nigeria’s efforts in organic farming were commendable and timely as they came at a time when people were paying attention to what they were eating.

“What Nigeria is doing will benefit not only Nigeria as a country but also the 14 other ECOWAS member states, and we hope member states will monitor your progress so far,” he said. .

Aubee, also Chairman of the EOA West Africa Regional Steering Committee, said EOA has been given a prominent place in the ECOWAS Commission, so she is leading the initiative. of organic farming for the benefit of the region.

“We need to look for the best way to integrate organic farming into every sector of the economy, to encourage and promote its sustainability in the region,” he said.

Aubee urged other ECOWAS member states to immediately start working on how best to ensure the integration of organic farming into their lives.

The event brought together representatives of the Ministries of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD), Trade, Industry and Investments.

Also in attendance were the Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria (ARCN), the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), the National Universities Commission (NUC), the National Council for Technical Education (NBTE), NAFDAC and the partners of the EOA initiative in Nigeria.

Previously, Dr Olugbenga AdeOluwa, the National EOA Coordinator in Nigeria, reported that the Initiative had the support of African Heads of State Decision EX.CL/Dec.621 (XVII) 2020 on Agriculture biological, and that Nigeria had been part of the EOA Process since 2011.

Mr. Oyewole Gbadamosi, the project leader, while reporting on the achievements of EOA, said the goal was to integrate EOA into national agricultural production systems by 2025, with a view to improve the quality of life of African citizens.

“An organic crop and livestock research database has been produced and distributed to strategic institutional libraries in Nigeria; to fill the gaps in biological research in the country.

“It has also supported the production of the current revised version of the organic farming standards in Nigeria.

“The initiative has successfully supported one doctoral program, while support for another is ongoing.

“We also supported eight master’s studies and the publication of seven research articles in an international journal.

“The curriculum for a comprehensive program on organic farming technology (OAT) in agricultural colleges has been developed.

“The material is ready to be submitted to pre-review and national validation workshops, before being absorbed by colleges, after approval by the National Council for Technical Education,” he said.

The project manager also noted that intensive awareness raising on the benefits of organic farming was being promoted by the Initiative.

“We have done a lot of intensive awareness raising on the benefits of organic farming with the production of a lot of information and educational material on organic farming in English and in different indigenous languages ​​of the country.

“We have over 27 printed publications covering different aspects of organic farming.

“We produced both print and video material on organic animal production (posted on YouTube https://youtu.be/EOrlsk4K0aE, https://youtu.be/F5IsrrbilH4 and https://youtu.be / 0LX9GXhP7Qg) to increase organic animal production in the country.

“We also produced audiovisual jingles on the benefits of organic farming in four languages; English, Yoruba, Igbo and Hausa, to educate consumers in the country, ”he said.

Gbadamosi said the capacity of more than 450 stakeholders has been strengthened to undertake inspections under the participatory guarantee system of certification and general organic farming issues.

“250 extension agents in the 36 states and in Abuja have been trained on the basics of organic farming, the concept of innovation platforms and its functioning and the operationalization of innovation platforms in organic farming to stimulate organic farming markets in Nigeria.

“We have supported the production of the first project of ‘Organic farming standards in West Africa’. This material has been submitted to the West Africa Regional Secretariat for further input.

“We have hosted an Agricultural Business Summit, an annual exhibition of organic farming products, products and services in Nigeria since 2016.

“We also launched OrganiCulture, a journal of organic farming companies, to promote the development of organic farming businesses in the country and the national organic farming award,” he added.

Highlights of the event included the presentation of the 2020 National Organic Business Summit Award to Ms. Ebere Agozie, of the (NAN), as the 2020 Organic Advocacy and Media Personality.

The other award winners were Ms Udeme Udoya of Ikot Ekpene Women Food Cash Crops Multifunctional Co-operative Society, as Organic Farmer of the Year, and Akwa Ibom State, as Organic State Government of the year. (NOPE)

(NAN)