RMRDC, NAQS promise support to organic farming

DG. RMRDC Prof. Ibrahim Hussaini Doko and DG. NAQS Dr. Vincent Isegbe 

The Raw Material Research Development Council (RMRDC) and National Agricultural Quarantine Services (NAQS) have promised to use their mandates to support and ensure the fast development of organic farming based on its economic potential ability to increase revenue and job creation in the country.

Speaking at the National Organic Agriculture Business Summit, held in Lagos, the Director General (DG) of RMRDC Prof. Ibrahim Hussaini Doko said that the council would be willing to use its mandate to assist organic farming in Nigeria towards the development of locally sourced agricultural raw materials for industrialization and creation of wealth through jobs availability.

Dr. Sab Ebiriekwe who represented Prof Doko implored the organic farming practitioners not to hesitate to ask for a constructive help from the council through its office in any part of the states stressed that his boss would be willing to ensure assistance that would use local raw materials content to drive industrialization and attract wealth creation through technical human capacity building towards industrial development.

He said that the council would not give cash as Bank of Industry (BOI) , but could give human capacity without charging any amount through other mandated research institutes and universities’ experts saying that ‘’ we pay for expertise without necessarily  wanting to interject on peoples’ mandates as we also deal with individuals and farmers’ groups. If you have problem of seeds, you can write to us a proposal and we will be willing to link you up with the right research Institute’’

 In the same vein, the DG, Nigerian Agricultural Quarantine Service (NAQS) Dr. Vincent Isegbe speaking during a session on ‘’ exportation of agricultural produce’’ said the organization would continue to give sensitization support that would ensure standard of agricultural produce for national consumption and export adding that peoples’ attitude to cutting corners through avoidance of phyto-sanitary certifications usually resulted in rejection of exports outside the country.

Dr. Isegbe who was represented by Mr. Abdullahi Ibrahim pointed out that his Agency was cognisant of organic farming in relation to the conventional agricultural practice saying both are science-based, and science cannot contravene itself when it come to practice.

He said ‘’ the truth about organic farming is that it is production of an item, the consumers and the environment. Once these three factors are saved, then it becomes organic’’ adding that the national programme on mango export was organic and already his organization has started using organic materials to control the mango pest.

He advised that Nigerians must stop cutting corners with agricultural produce export without phyto-sanitary certificates stressing that the red alert on maize was as a result of aflatoxin detection, while sesame seeds problem was  impurity and pest occasioned by traditional storage system where two different infected crops were stored together in a place.