“That 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, that appropriate attention should be paid to the organic agriculture sector for enabling environment for development of the sector.
By Abdulrahman Aliagan, Abuja
Experts at the just concluded of 2021 National Organic Agriculture Business Summit (6th edition) held at Nigerian Export Promotion Council Headquarters, Abuja, Nigeria has resolved among others issues in a communique issued at the end of the summit that Ministries, Departments and Agencies of government (MDAs) need to contribute to formulation and implementation of organic agriculture policy in Nigeria.
It was equally advised that stakeholders of organic agriculture in the country should have good understanding of the principles and practices of Organic Agriculture; adding that the level of organic agriculture trade (domestic and export) in Nigeria although growing, but still at the low ebb compared to leading countries in the organic sector of Africa.
The Communique further stated that funding for organic agriculture and Ecological activities in Nigeria is low in relation to the needs of the sector; noting that there is huge technical knowledge gap on Organic Agriculture production system for export in the country.
It added “that the issue of agricultural extension services to facilitate Organic Agriculture in the country needs to be addressed;
“That 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;
“That appropriate attention should be paid to the organic agriculture sector for enabling environment for development of the sector;
“That there is the need for a definite engagement of youths, special people and women in Organic Agriculture for meaningful livelihood development for all;
“That there is the need to put in motion necessary apparatus that can lead to increase in Organic market share (in terms of produce, products and services) from Nigeria at the global market and participation in BioFach (which holds yearly in mid-February at Nuremberg, Germany);
“Stressed the need for MDAs to contribute toward funding of the annual National Organic Agriculture Business Summit in order to extend its benefits to more stakeholders, thereby contributing to national development;
“Stressed also the need to increase efforts on mainstreaming Organic Agriculture into existing curricula for agricultural training at all levels of education in Nigeria.
The experts at the Summit recalled in a Communique that, “Nigeria subscribes to the Sustainable Development Goals; specifically Goal 2 (Zero Hunger), Goal 3 (Good Health and Well-being), Goal 5 (Gender Equality) and Goal 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) and the Malabo Declaration that are relevant to Organic Agriculture;
“That export value in Organic Agriculture sector of the country is much lower, compared to some countries in Africa that are smaller in land size and population;
“Those available facts reveal paucity of scientific evidence to support Organic Agriculture in Nigeria, especially for policy, exportable produce and products;
“That Organic Agriculture is yet to be reflected in the existing curricula relating to agriculture in academic programmes at all levels in Nigeria;
“That agricultural funding policy of the government is yet to give adequate attention to the Organic Agriculture sub-sector.
The experts therefore all tiers of government in Nigeria to fully explore opportunities in the decision of the African Heads of States and Governments on Organic Farming [EX.CL/Dec.621 (XVII), 2010];
The Federal Ministry of Information and Culture to ensure proper dissemination/public awareness of the benefits, principles and practice of Organic Agriculture in the country;
ECOWAS Commission as well as relevant international development organisations to support the annual National Organic Agriculture Business Summit to enable more entrepreneurs in Organic Agriculture sector of Nigeria tap into ECOWAS open-doors for exports and other international opportunities, including participation in the biggest annual organic exhibition – BioFach at Nuremberg, Germany;
Nigeria as a country to have a robust multi-ministerial/sectoral policy on organic agriculture to be led by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in order to provide enabling environment for development of the sector in the country;
All relevant or appropriate governmental and private stakeholders to put in place a consistent and proper monitoring of Organic Agricultural enterprises to uphold the integrity of the Organic Agriculture sector of the country;
MDAs relevant to organic agriculture sector like Federal Ministries of Industry, Trade and Investments,
Agriculture & Rural Development, Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) and financial institutions like Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Bank of Agriculture, Bank of Industry and similar others, support the processes of improving quality of organic agriculture produce and products from Nigeria with respect to the development and organic certification for export market;