Stakeholders in the organic farming sector have urged the Federal Government to enact policies that would meet the citizens agricultural demands and promote a healthy ecosystem.
They made the call on Thursday in Abuja at the National Stakeholders’ Workshop on Organic Agriculture and Agro ecological Farming in Nigeria.
The stakeholders harped on the need to push bills supporting organic agriculture, which they believe would spur more farmers to adopt organic farming.
They charged farmers and other stakeholders on regulations, enforcement and monitoring to embrace and expand alternatives to pesticides.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that organic farming is a method of crop and livestock production that precludes the use of pesticides, fertiliser, genetically modified organisms, antibiotics and growth hormones.
Prof. Olugbenga Adeoluwa, the National Coordinator, Organic and Agroecology initiative (ORAIN) charged farmers and other stakeholders on regulations, enforcement and monitoring to embrace and expand alternatives to pesticides.
He noted that the cultivation and consumption of organic crops is gradually diminishing, adding that the level of organic farming is low globally.
“ To say the least, research has shown that currently, only two per cent of the total arable lands worldwide is allocated to organic agriculture.
“ There is need to ensure that Nigerians consume safe foods in order to live and lead healthy lives,’’ he said.
He noted that organic farming entailed a production system that sustains health of soils, ecosystems, biodiversity and people.
According to him, It is also a system of production which does not use synthetic fertiliser and drugs, pesticides, herbicides, and growth regulators.
“This system of farming has been identified to be of great importance to human, animal, agro- production ecosystems, the environment, the farming community and society.
“This is because of its ability to keep the soil intact,’’ he said.
Adeoluwa said that the workshop would cover so many aspects with the purpose of spreading knowledge on organic agriculture.
He said that the training would equally lift Nigeria out of obscurity for many people in the country to be knowledgeable about organic agriculture.
“ Participants will also acquire knowledge on how to use and practice organic agriculture for financial empowerment, job security, good governance and the sustainable use of environmental resources,’’ he said.
Mr Biyi Fafunmi, the Director, Agric Business Enterprise and Statistics, National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), said that it was expedient that people ate right because they are what they eat.
Fafunmi who represented the Statistician General, Mr Adeyemi Adeniran, said that NBS had a collective commitment to organic agriculture initiative to capture it in the GDP of the country.
He noted the need for data to support government policies, which would help in economic growth.
Mrs Esther Adebayo, President, Women/Youth Agro Processors and AgricGen and Exporters Initiative (WAPAGEIN) said that there was need for organisations and research institutions to create sustained awareness.
“ We strongly believe that organic agriculture and agroecology are the way to go as they promote safe and healthy products, higher nutritional value and longer shelf life.’’
“ Women farmers are very close to the grassroots and populace, which gives them the ability to make things known to everybody in this nation,” she said.
Also, Mrs Janet Oluyemisi, the Chairperson of ORAIN said that the Federal Government was mandated to enlighten Nigerians on good values and benefits embedded in organic farming.
She commended the partnership between government, the private organisations and ORAIN.
She expressed optimism that the workshop would go a long way in addressing agricultural sector challenges and address them
Mr Peter Bakare, Executive secretary, Federation of Agricultural commodity Association of Nigeria (FACAN), said that organic agriculture and agroecology were the way to go as they promote safe and healthy products.
Bakare said that food grown according to certified organic standard was safe for consumption, and called for trainings for farmers
“This is to avert unhealthy practices, which harm human, animals, plants and environment. It also promotes higher nutritional value and longer shelf life,” he said.
