Experts make case for organic agriculture, to hold summit in October

Organic farmers, academics and other experts have urged government and stakeholders in the agricultural sector to embrace organic farming.  They argued that this system of farming holds the key to healthy living and safe environment.  Their position was made known by the Chairman, National Ecological Organic Agriculture (EOA) Steering Committee, Isah Adamu, at a recent […]

Organic farmers, academics and other experts have urged government and stakeholders in the agricultural sector to embrace organic farming. 
They argued that this system of farming holds the key to healthy living and safe environment. 
Their position was made known by the Chairman, National Ecological Organic Agriculture (EOA) Steering Committee, Isah Adamu, at a recent stakeholders meeting in Abuja. 
Adamu wondered why people were not focusing on organic agriculture when organic foods have been proven to be very nutritious, tasty and attracts premium price, among other benefits. 
Speaking at the event, the National Coordinator, EOA Initiative in Nigeria, Dr O.O. AdeOluwa, said that the group was working to promote organic farming across the country through various approaches. 
“Our efforts at the EOA Initiative are aimed at triggering actions and reactions at the government and private sector levels in order to make organic agriculture very popular and acceptable in the country,” Dr AdeOluwa stated. 
An organic farmer at the forum, Hajiya Fatimah Kachalla Shitu, attributed the neglect of organic agriculture by farmers to lack of education and extention services, among other factors.
“Our farmers need to be educated,” she said. 
“Awareness must also be created among the farmers to achieve results. No extension workers in the country and train the trainer training programmes are not taken seriously.” 
Making a presentation at the event, Dr (Mrs.) Sarah Jubril, a former special adviser to Nigerian government on ethics and values, and founder, Foundation for the Advancement of Ethics and Values International (FAEV-INTNL), said that ethics was lacking in food production, processing and marketing in Nigeria. 
She urged the stakeholders to embrace good agricultural practices for better society. 
Mrs. Jubril said that her Foundation had mapped out strategies to facilitate the establishment of community and industrial farms across the country to fight unemployment, poverty, insecurity and ensure food security.
Meanwhile, a national summit has been slated for October, this year, to bring together foreign and local stakeholders to brainstorm on how to move organic agriculture to the next level in Nigeria.