Council introduces organic agriculture to local farmers

The Nigerian Export Promotion Council, NEPC, has held a workshop on organic agriculture and certification for local farmers in Cross River State, southern Nigeria.

The workshop, which had the theme “Boosting Global Demand for Nigerian Agro-products through Organic Certification”, was part of the council’s efforts to encourage the production of high quality crops for the international and domestic markets.

While declaring the one-day training for more than two hundred farmers open, the Chairman of Ikom local government area in the central district of Cross River State, where the programme was held, Kingsley Egumi commended NEPC for choosing its local farmers for the programme.

Creating awareness

Egumi, who was represented by the Secretary of the Council, Esoso Ana, described the forum as long overdue, noting “people have taken advantage of our ignorance for too long and that is why I am commending export promotion council for this training.

“The need for organic farming and certification is crucial at this point in time when we are going global in our marketing efforts. Ikom and the adjoining communities are basically agrarian with value chains in agriculture,” he said.

He urged the participants to take advantage of the training, noting “I urge you participants to take this training seriously. Let us change our attitude and embrace this opportunity the Nigerian Government is giving us to get value for our produce. Whatever knowledge you get here, I urge you to go back and implement them.”

Attaining global standards

Earlier, the Chief Trade Promotion Officer of NEPC, Mrs. Sylvia Adeneye said that the programme was one of the Nigerian Government’s efforts to tackle the challenges in agricultural exports.

Adeneye explained that the programme was designed to assist small holder farmers, producers and exporters to improve on their activities and achieve certification by globally recognizing safety, complying with organic farming practices and standards.

According to her, “the workshop is geared towards achieving objectives such as boost Nigerian agro-commodity export through the promotion of organic farming practice; to ensure food safety in the production of agro-commodity in compliance with global safety management system.

“Also encourage the production of high nutritional quality produce in sufficient quantity for domestic and international markets. As well as create awareness on the opportunities for export of organic agro-commodities and prepare our farmers to key into the value chains,” she stated.

She further said that the workshop would provide the participants with the right tools and information to be export ready and access the international market.

Going organic

Adeneye noted that organic farming was an integral system, which supports sustainability, enhance soil fertility and bio diversity as well as prohibits the use of synthetic fertilizers.

She stated “In Nigeria, awareness about organic farming is still very low. That is why there is this need to create awareness because it is essential for public and private sector stakeholders to have a clear understanding of the organic system plan.

“Cross River State is blessed with a golden green economy of agro products such as cocoa, rice, cassava, which can be harnessed for export. Globally, emphasis has been placed on organic agriculture and this has create a huge market opportunity for organic products,” she said.

Developing work plans

In the opening ceremony, the Chairman of Cocoa Association of Nigeria, Cross River State chapter, Ejor Bisong noted that the control methods and management system were new.

Bisong urged exporters of cocoa and palm produce services departments in the Ministry of Agriculture to increase their support to farmers.

He said, “at the end of this workshop, we should be able to develop a work plan that would enable us produce high nutritional crops in sufficient quantity for domestic and international market.”

He expressed appreciation to NEPC for partnering with cocoa farmers and assisting them to improve the quality of their beans for export.

The workshop featured presentations such as the export potentials of organic food items.

 

 

Dominica Nwabufo