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.
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