Organic Farming: Is Nigeria lagging behind?

This trend is as well finding its way into the developing countries, including Nigeria. The use of inorganic fertilizers, which is injurious to the soil and human health as a result of consumption of foods produced using the fertiliser, is being gradually discouraged in Nigeria. Awareness of the benefits of organic fertiliser is said to […]

This trend is as well finding its way into the developing countries, including Nigeria. The use of inorganic fertilizers, which is injurious to the soil and human health as a result of consumption of foods produced using the fertiliser, is being gradually discouraged in Nigeria.
Awareness of the benefits of organic fertiliser is said to be growing in the country and it is now considered to be the best alternative to inorganic fertiliser by farmers, consumers, experts and other stakeholders in Nigerian agriculture.
At a recent neem-based minero-organic fertiliser workshop organised by the National Agricultural Research Institute for Chemical Technology (NARICT) in Zaria, Kaduna State, the increasing global interest in the production and application of organic fertiliser was highlighted.
According to the Director, Federal Fertilizer Department (FDF) of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mr. A. O. Osho, who was chairman of the occasion, “the global trend on production of fertilizers and their application is shifting towards eco-friendly materials for betterment of humanity and the eco-system.”
Osho pointed out that the current global use of organic fertilisers is gaining fast acceptability, especially in the developing countries due to the numerous advantages including social, economic, medical etc. derived from its use.
The director stated that the neem-based minero-organic fertilizer produced by NARICT contains all nutrients including primary, secondary, micro-nutrients  and organic matter in addition to acid neutralising effect as well as a powerful pesticidal content, which can control both soil and foliage pest, among other qualities.
He said every encouragement needed to promote organic fertilizer production locally will be pursued vigorously by the government so as to tackle the challenges associated with the use of chemical fertilizers.
To elicit interest of Nigerian farmers in organic farming, the Minister for Agriculture, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, has “Approved the review of the current national fertilizer policy with a view to incorporating bio/organic fertilizer in the policy as recommended,” the Director stated.
In order to give more impetus to organic farming in the country, organic fertilisers, soil amenders/micronutrients have been included in the 2014 Growth Enhancement Support Scheme (GES) under the Agricultural Transformation Agenda (ATA) of the federal government, and “many farmers would now have the advantage to procure both organic and inorganic fertilisers from the various redemption centres for use on their farms”, Osho noted.
Also speaking at the workshop, another promoter of organic farming, Prof. I. M. Bugaji, the Director General of NARICT, also posited that “globally, farming is going organic and incidentally, Nigeria is picking up to join this trend.”
According to the professor, “undoubtedly, organic and minero-organic fertilizers, in addition to their NPK content, also have micro-nutrients and organic matter, which chemical fertilisers cannot supply to the soil and plants, and it, is this that makes organic fertilisers environmentally friendly and sustainable.”
He pointed out that there is a lot of room to jack up fertiliser consumption for enhanced crops’ yield in Nigeria and hopefully organic fertilizer may be the one to fill this gap for sustainable agriculture.
“Nigeria’s fertilizer consumption continues to be very low, less than 10 kilograms per hectare per annum as compared to an average of 200 in Europe, 90 in Turkey and 140 in Bangladesh,” Prof. Bugaji lamented.
He appealed to all stakeholders in the organic fertiliser industry to join hands and ensure integrity is upheld, standards are maintained and all requirements are met, so that our farmers will not be disappointed.
Also lending his voice to the promotion of organic agriculture at the workshop, the Kaduna State Commissioner for Agriculture, Hon. Isaac A. Bodams, supported the use of organic fertilisers and urged NARICT to take advantage of the fertiliser deregulation policy by keying into the GES scheme so that farmers can access the neem-based organic fertilisers for crop production.
The commissioner said that the fertiliser deregulation policy has given the private sector a level playing ground to participate in the agricultural value chain from input supply to production, processing, marketing and consumption, which is a huge opportunity to unlock the potentials in agriculture.
The Organic Fertiliser Producers and Suppliers Association of Nigeria (OFPSAN) is not left out in the crusade for organic farming in the country. At their various meetings held in several locations across the country, the group has continued to harp on the dangerous effects of the use of inorganic fertilisers on both soil and humans, calling on farmers and the government to embrace organic fertilisers for sustainable agriculture and good health.
Engr. Noel Keyen, the Acting National Secretary of the association, at a recent meeting in Abuja, advised members to device means of promoting and popularising organic fertilisers, and also sensitise and educate farmers on the application of the products through printed education, information and communication materials in English and major local languages.
All the farmers that attended the workshop were enthusiastic about organic farming, saying it will put an end to various types of complaints by consumers, especially those outside the shores of Nigeria.