FOOD SECURITY: GROUP CALLS FOR NATIONAL STRATEGY ON AGRO-ECOLOGY
By Raymond Enoch
In an effort to drive national conversations and develop policies that promote Organic and Agro-Ecological Farming, key organizations in Nigeria have called for a comprehensive national strategy to boost food security.
The workshop, held at Bolton White Hotel in Abuja, was organized by the Alliance for Action on Pesticide in Nigeria (AAPN), ActionAid Nigeria (AAN), the Organic and Agroecology Initiative (ORAIN), and the Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF), with support from Henrich Boell Stiftung.
The event aimed to address pressing issues in Nigeria’s agricultural sector by advocating for sustainable farming practices and policies that enhance food security while protecting environmental health.
Professor Olugbenga AdeOluwa, from the University of Ibadan’s Department of Soil Resources Management, spoke on “Updates on Organic Agriculture and Agroecological Farming in Nigeria.”
He highlighted that despite the benefits of organic farming, Nigeria lags behind other African countries in its adoption. “Poor understanding of organic agriculture and agroecology could be the reason for their slow development in Nigeria compared to leading countries in Africa,” Prof. AdeOluwa said.
He emphasized that the advantages of these practices far outweigh any perceived disadvantages, noting their potential to improve soil health, ensure environmental sustainability, and guarantee food safety.
Dr. Koffi Emmanuel Gle, Director of Agriculture and Rural Development at the ECOWAS Commission, represented by Nwachukwu Gift Ezinne, praised the organizers for their dedication to promoting sustainable agriculture.
He stressed the importance of adopting agro-ecological practices, stating, “We must prioritize the adoption of agro-ecological practices, support smallholder farmers, and promote organic agriculture. We owe it to ourselves, our communities, and future generations to ensure a sustainable and food-secure West Africa.”
Dr. Koffi added that ECOWAS is actively supporting organic and agroecological farming in Nigeria through initiatives like the ECOWAS Agroecology and Climate Smart Agriculture program, which aims to help farmers adapt to climate change while improving food security across the region.
Mr. Azubike Nwokoye, Head of Agriculture and Food Security at ActionAid Nigeria, reiterated the organization’s commitment to promoting agroecological practices.
He noted that ActionAid Nigeria is at the forefront of implementing organic agricultural services to harness the vast opportunities in the sector.
In his presentation at the event, the project manager, Sustainable Nigeria at the HBS Nigeria Mr .Ikenna Donald Ofoegbu said that Agriculture and food security in Nigeria face significant challenges, exacerbated by a combination of socio-economic factors, cultural norms, climate change,
Mr Ikenna said that wrong farm practices, ongoing violent conflicts, food inflation over 40.9%, with farmers spending huge cost on imported farm inputs such as seedlings, pesticides and fertilizers, and local plant and seed varies going extinct due to poor farm practices like monoculture, heavy dependence on toxic agrochemicals and now genetically modified organism (GMO) for food, the country’s nutrition burden and hunger poverty will continue to increase.
The event also featured presentations from finance institutions and the private sector, showcasing case studies on how organic farming and agroecology can better address Nigeria’s food security needs.
