Agriculture
Africa Not Among 10 World Largest Area Of Organic Land
The Country Coordinator of Ecological Organic Agriculture (EOA) Initiative in Nigeria Dr. Olugbenga AdeOluwa, has hinted that no country in Africa is among the ten world largest area of organic land.
Dr. AdeOluwa said this during his online presentation on the Principles of Organic Agriculture practices organized by Journalists Go Organic Movement.
Journalists Go Organic is a Pan African initiative that brings journalists together with organic agriculture and environment experts on how to have a healthy nation and a healthy environment.
He said that low level of technical know-how among stakeholders and policy makers have been part of the major limitations to the development of the organic agriculture sector in Africa.
“Global organic sector was valued at 130 billion US dollars as at 2019, with 72.3 million hectares managed by over 3.1 million producers and yet Africa is still found wanting”.
AdeOluwa, an Associate Professor in the Department of Soil Resources Management, University of Ibadan said organic agriculture contributes a lot to the health of the world.
“The Principles of Health, Ecology, Fairness, and Care are the roots from which organic agriculture grows and develops.
“Ensuring healthy living of both the living and non-living components of the ecosystem is a MUST in organic agriculture.
“This is what you don’t get from conventional agriculture, where ‘you rob Peter to pay Paul’ like the indiscriminate use of harmful agrochemicals without concern for its negative impact on the health of those in the value chain’’.
According to him, `organic agriculture is a holistic production management system which enhances agro-ecosystem health, utilizing both traditional and scientific knowledge.
“It contributes to agro-ecosystem balance or sustenance; protecting native entities, including biodiversity, biological cycles, and soil biological activity.
It emphasizes the use of management practices in preference to the use of off-farm inputs, taking into account the fact that regional conditions require locally adapted systems.
“This is accomplished by using, where possible, agronomic, biological, and mechanical methods, as opposed to using synthetic materials, to fulfill any specific function within the system’’.
He added that organic production method thus plays a dual societal role: on one hand it provides for a specific market responding to a consumer demand for organic products, and on the other hand delivers public goods contributing to the protection of the environment and animal welfare, as well as to rural development.
He, however, said that journalists need a proper understanding of organic agriculture principles in order to properly address issues in the sector.
“Truly, journalists have great roles to play in taking Nigeria to a higher level and in exploring the several opportunities for mankind within the organic agriculture system.
“A major question is how far can journalists go in proper advocacy for organic agriculture when they don’t have good understanding of the sector?
“So, it is vital that journalists, as the society’s watch dogs and indeed all stakeholders, should be trained and retrained in organic agriculture practices for the health of the world and its inhabitats.
This is one of the reasons for increasing development of organic agriculture all over the world; increasing consumer awareness of the benefits of organic agriculture.
Health considerations, especially, is increasing the demand for organic produce and products.
on her own, the Founder, ‘Journalists Go Organic’ a Pan African Initiative a Journalist per excellent Mrs Ebere Agozie, with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) said the project was born out of the desire to help curb strange sicknesses ravaging the world today.
This project is to build the capacity of journalists across the African continent not only in the promotion of, and sustenance of, organic agriculture, but in getting them to become organic farmers.
The unique innovation is to work with journalists who are the watch dogs of the society to take the words and benefits of organic agriculture to every nook and cranny of the country.
Since we are what we eat, we can no longer leave the business of our health and that of our environment to farmers alone.
Nigeria must be number one in the drive for organic agriculture in Africa and among the best ten in the world; therefore, we must sit up and work as a team”.
Agriculture
Sakata Seeds Strengthens West Africa Team with Dr. Hadiza Yaro’s Appointment
Joel Ajayi
The former Nigeria Country Manager of East-West Seed, Dr. Hadiza Yaro, has joined Sakata Seeds Nigeria–West Africa Office as Sales Manager for Nigeria and Anglo-West Africa.
In her new role, she will oversee the company’s operations across English-speaking countries in the region, including Togo and the Benin Republic.
Her responsibilities will include servicing existing clients, building new partnerships, and expanding Sakata’s footprint across the continent.
Dr. Yaro holds a PhD in Agronomy and has pursued further studies in Marketing and Food Security across Africa, Europe, and Asia. Announcing her appointment, Vicente Celada, Sakata’s West Africa Director, said: “I am absolutely certain Hadiza will be a great addition to Sakata’s projects in West Africa.”
Over the past decade, Dr. Yaro has established herself as a thought leader, practitioner, and policy advocate in agribusiness.
At East-West Seed, she played a pivotal role in growing the company’s presence in Nigeria while championing smallholder farmers, particularly in Northern Nigeria. She has presented research on the critical role of smallholder farmers in achieving national food security and self-sufficiency.
She also spearheaded several agribusiness fairs and expos that showcased the impact of seed quality on crop yields events that attracted significant media attention. In addition, she worked with governors and state agricultural ministries on strategies to empower smallholder farmers and increase local agricultural output.
A native of Zuru, Kebbi State, Dr. Yaro is widely recognized as an agronomist and agribusiness expert. She is expected to bring the same expertise and innovation to her new role at Sakata Seeds.
Sakata Seed is a global company engaged in the breeding, production, and sale of high-quality vegetable and flower seeds, along with gardening materials and agricultural products. With a strong focus on research and development, Sakata offers a diverse range of horticultural varieties and maintains an extensive international network of offices and research stations.
The company also undertakes related ventures, including landscaping and greenhouse construction, serving both wholesale and retail markets.
-
Featured6 years agoLampard Names New Chelsea Manager
-
Featured5 years agoFG To Extends Lockdown In FCT, Lagos Ogun states For 7days
-
Featured6 years agoChildren Custody: Court Adjourns Mike Ezuruonye, Wife’s Case To April 7
-
Featured6 years agoNYSC Dismisses Report Of DG’s Plan To Islamize Benue Orientation Camp
-
Featured4 years agoTransfer Saga: How Mikel Obi Refused to compensate me After I Linked Him Worth $4m Deal In Kuwait SC – Okafor
-
Sports3 years ago
TINUBU LAMBAST DELE MOMODU
-
News9 months agoZulu to Super Eagles B team, President Tinubu is happy with you
-
Featured6 years ago
Board urges FG to establish one-stop rehabilitation centres in 6 geopolitical zones
