NAN-AE-5
Communique
By Ebere Agozie
Abuja, Jan. 18, 2017 (NAN) Association of Organic Agriculture Practitioners of Nigeria (AOAPN) says organic agriculture presents Nigeria with a lot of potential for creation jobs, domestic and export markets.
President, Prof. Victor Olowe, AOAPN, said this in the communiqué of the maiden edition of the association’s summit he signed and made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Abuja.
The communique said that about 170 participate in the 2016 Summit held in Abuja, Nigeria between Dec. 6 and 7, 2016.
It said participants came from almost all states of Nigeria and six other countries (USA, UK, Canada, Ukraine, Uganda and Ghana).
According to the communiqué, organic agriculture had a significant role to play in providing business opportunities that could greatly contribute to sustainable national development in Nigeria.
“This will help address the pressing problems of poverty, food insecurity, create job opportunities for teeming youths of the country and contribute to improving the livelihoods of stakeholders in the organic agriculture value chain,’’ the communique said.
It said the association recommended supportive policies and programmes that would move the organic agriculture forward.
“Among the recommendations is appropriate legislation for ensuring the integrity and quality guarantee of the organic agriculture sector in Nigeria.
“Also, to ensure that the use of organic agriculture is strictly restricted to agricultural practices that follows appropriate and established organic agriculture standards.
“The upgrade of the Organic Fertiliser Division of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to the Directorate of Organic Agriculture,” the communiqué explained.
Members also recommended that the AOAPN be recognised to support the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in coordinating stakeholders within the value chain of the organic agriculture sector in Nigeria.
“This should address all phases of value chain in organic agriculture practices in the country and also include organic agriculture sector in all governmental agricultural inputs and credit guarantee facilities.
“The association recommends that at least 3 per cent of the expected 10 per cent allocation to agriculture shall be for organic agriculture development in the country.
“The government should encourage the use of locally produced organic food inputs by hospitals which supply meals for patients,” the communique said. (NAN)
EPA/ORO/AFA
Edited by Razak Owolabi/Felix Ajide