Stakeholders in the Agriculture sector have held their 6th
National Organic Agriculture Business Summit in Abuja to review strategies that will ensure the promotion of organic agriculture and strengthen trade.
A communique was issued at the end of the meeting, signed by Dr Olugbenga AdeOluwa, Country Coordinator, Ecological Organic Agriculture (EOA) Initiative in Nigeria and Prince Bakare, Co-Chairman, Local Organising Committee.
Stakeholders at the summit with the theme, “Organic Quality: Guarantee for National Development” noted existence of huge technical knowledge gap on organic agriculture production system for export in the country.
“The level of organic agriculture trade for domestic and export in Nigeria, although growing, is still on the low side compared to leading countries in the organic sector of Africa.
“Appropriate attention should be paid to the organic agriculture sector by creating an enabling environment for its development.
“There is need for definite engagement of youths, and special people and women in organic agriculture for enhancement of a meaningful livelihood for all,” they asserted in the communique.
The stakeholders said there was need to put in motion necessary apparatus that could lead to increase in organic market share in terms of produce, products and services from Nigeria at the global market.
They pointed out that funding for organic agriculture and ecological organic agriculture activities in Nigeria was low, in relation to the needs of the sector.
“The understanding of most stakeholders in Nigeria of the required procedures for certification of organic produce and products for both domestic and export trade is still low,” the stakeholders noted.
They emphasised the need to increase efforts at mainstreaming organic agriculture into existing curricula for agricultural training at all levels of education in Nigeria.
They called on relevant Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to contribute to policy formulation and implementation of organic agriculture in the country.
The stakeholders also urged MDAs to contribute towards funding of the annual National Organic Agriculture Business Summit in order to extend its benefits to more stakeholders.
The attendance represented a circle of enthusiasts in organic agricultural, input supply, crop production, processing, certification and consumers.
There were representatives of MDAs of the Federal Government of Nigeria with functions related to organic agriculture among others, at the meeting.
About 120 participants gathered physically and virtually for the 2021 National Organic Agriculture Business summit.
