By Patricia Amogu
Stakeholders in Nigeria’s organic and agroecology sector have urged stronger policy backing to promote sustainable and chemical-free agriculture across the country.
They made the call at the 2025 National Organic and Agroecology Business Summit on Tuesday in Abuja.
The event, organised by the Organic and Agroecology Initiative of Nigeria (ORAIN), brought together agencies, farmers, researchers, and private actors to explore opportunities in organic production and marketing.
Alhaji Abubakar Gotomo, ORAIN Chairman, Board of Trustees, said the coalition was formed to promote eco-friendly farming and tackle soil degradation from excessive chemical use.
“We are promoting organic farming to save our environment, continuous use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides degrades farmlands.
“We want farmers and government to embrace organic practices”.
Gotomo commended government ministries for supporting organic farming, noting that some had stopped subsidising chemical fertilisers due to their harmful environmental effects.
“Government support has been encouraging, especially through policies promoting natural inputs to sustain agricultural production and protect the ecosystem,” he said.
Earlier, Mr William Ekpe, representative of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, said the summit was timely and essential for promoting sustainable agricultural practices in Nigeria.
He noted that amid challenges in food security and environmental sustainability, the adoption of organic and agroecological systems is increasingly urgent.
“These practices support soil health, biodiversity, and climate resilience while producing safe, healthy, and affordable food for our growing population,” Ekpe said.
He added that the ministry has prioritised integrating organic and agroecological principles into national agricultural policies and programmes.
Ekpe said the ministry actively partners with governments, academic institutions, and organisations to strengthen policy frameworks, quality assurance, and stakeholder capacity in organic agriculture.
“Modern agriculture must emphasise sustainability, inclusiveness, and innovation, not just productivity,” he said, highlighting the summit as a platform for sharing ideas and building partnerships.
He urged stakeholders to focus on practical steps to expand organic and agroecological practices, particularly empowering smallholder farmers, women, and youth.
“In the soil beneath their hands, we reaffirm our commitment to safe food systems, healthy soil, and strengthened livelihoods across Nigeria,” Ekpe said.
Also, Prof. Olugbenga Adeoluwa, ORAIN National Coordinator, said the annual summit provides a platform for collaboration among stakeholders in the organic and agroecology value chain.
“This is the ninth edition since 2016, bringing together ministries and agencies across agriculture, trade, health, environment, education, finance, tourism, and women affairs,” he said.
He noted that the summit’s multidisciplinary approach highlights organic farming’s relevance to food safety, health, and environmental sustainability.
Adeoluwa said the 2025 edition focused on scaling up market platforms for organic produce to boost local and export trade.
He recalled that in 2024, Nigeria launched its National Organic and Agroecology Standards to guide production, processing, and certification.
“With the standard in place, consumers can trust certified organic produce as safe and contaminant-free, it also helps reduce export rejections linked to poor practices”.
Adeoluwa added that ORAIN is promoting community-level storage and advocating policies for natural preservation systems to reduce post-harvest losses.
Highlights of the event include an exhibition of organic agricultural products and innovations by farmers and agripreneurs.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the National Organic and Agroecology Business Summit, rotating among major cities, remains Nigeria’s leading platform for advancing sustainable agriculture and green enterprise. (NAN)
Edited by Tosin Kolade
