Organic Farming: ARCN, other partners call for synergy

The Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria ( ARCN) boss, Prof. Garba Sharabutu together with other strategic partners in the organic farming sub sector in Nigeria have advocated the need for a galvanized pally that will enhance food security and more premium to farmers. 

This position was unanimously taken at the last week Thursday meeting held at the ARCN conference room in Abuja.

The Executive Secretary of the council, Prof. Garba Sharabutu emphasized the need for more Private/Public Partnership ( PPP) synergy that would increase sustainable food affordability, availability and accessible system, thereby commending the already taken effort in this direction by the National Organic Business Submit towards ensuring effective drive of organic farming in Nigeria.

Sharabutu emphasized the need to bring back Agriculture to the front burner of our economy through collaborative effort of the Government at all levels with private stakeholders towards a purposeful national interest in agriculture.

He stressed the need for the resuscitation of  extension services through the local and states' Agricultural Development Programs (ADPs) who are actually in the custody of transferring new improved technologies to farmers just as he posited that researchers must  innovate into organic improved technologies for better productivity.

Speaking on the occasion,  the Country Coordinator, Ecological Organic Agriculture  (EOA) Initiative in Nigeria   Dr. Olugbenga AdeOluwa described organic farming through agro ecology in Nigeria as still very low even at our big potential to do far better as a nation.

Adeoluwa stated that Nigeria has got an improvement of 60,000 hectare of organic farming land areas which was an increase from the initial level of 3,164 we had in 2007 saying that " this is an exponential dimensions in the development of organic agriiculture in Nigeria.

He thanked the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development ( FMARD) and Nigeria Export Promotion Council (NEPC) for their great support in the improvement mark the country has made in areas of organic farming landmass to be 6th or seventh position in West Africa, pointing there is need for more agencies to join in the organic drive.

The FMARD Assistant Director ( AD), department of organic fertilizer promotion Mrs. Janet Oluyemisi Igboh agreed on the need for synergy with other agencies in the reformation of the sector through organic farming adding that food security is very strategic to our nation's unity.

The National Chairman, The Organic Fertilizer Producers and Suppliers Association of Nigeria (OFPSAN)  Engr. Noel Keyen however lamented on the negative impact of pesticide and herbicide on crops, saying his association is waiting for an organic solution in respect of these chemicals causing 70-80% rejection of agricultural produce from Nigeria.