Agriculture
Organic Agriculture combines best traditional practices for modern sustainable farming methods – Don
Dr Jude Obi, Lecturer, Department of Soil Science and Land Resources Management, University of Uyo says Organic Agriculture combines best traditional practices with modern, sustainable farming methods for the health of all.
Obi said this during his online presentation on `Organic Agriculture to the Rescue’ organised by the Journalists Go Organic Initiative.
He said that any agriculture practice that is not rooted, grows and develops on the principles of health, ecology, fairness, and care should be jettisoned.
“These principles express the contributions and the vision that organic agriculture presents to humanity for achieving safe and egalitarian global society.
“It sustains and enhances the health of soil, plant, animal, human and planet as one and indivisible, relies on living ecological systems and cycles, work with them, emulate them and help sustain them.
“Builds on relationships that ensure fairness with regard to the common environment and life opportunities, manages in a precautionary and responsible manner to protect the health and well-being of current and future generations and the environment.
“Any activity, process, practice etc. that does not conform, uphold and fully abide with these principles is clearly not good for the environment and its inhabitants,’’ he stressed.
Obi who is also the Coordinator for the Knowledge Centre for Organic Agriculture (KCOA) in Africa also highlighted the potentials of ecological agriculture.
“Ecological agriculture generates both economic value and sustainable development which should be seriously promoted to enable Africa exploit this niche.
“The continent should adopt organic agriculture practice due to the fragile environment that pervades it, for instance, the best soils are alluvial deposits found in the major river valleys.
“Most of the soils are difficult to cultivate, although soils in the humid tropics can be quite rich due to the forest cover and the rapid decomposition of organic matter.
“However, intense rainfall leads to the leaching of most of the plant nutrients resulting in the formation latosols/ferrosols, luvisols with some undesirable characteristics’’.
According to Obi, towards the deserts, the soils are sandy and deep but low in humus and quite infertile (arenosols) which give way to xerosols that are quite low in humus.
“Confronting these fragile environments is the episode of land degradation ‘worsening’.
“The summary is that these soils are inherently not resilient and management using synthetic resources and heavy equipment is not sustainable in the long run. It has caught up with us earlier than anticipated.
“These explained the failure of all large farms established in Nigeria and will continue to hunt those that will decide not to listen that organic agriculture is the answer’’.
He said that both researches and practical results have shown that in as much as the conventional system continually increases inputs from soil amendments to herbicides, pesticides, insecticides etc. and finally genetical modifications: organic practices increase benefits, profitability and the entire under presented benefits with time.
Enumerating the benefits of organic agriculture, Obi said it has positive effects on the soil by improving soil condition, lower soil pollution, erosion and flooding, ground water purification, energy efficient, greater flavor and nutrition, helps pollinators and sustains biodiversity.
“Organically grown food and agricultural produce have better nutrition, helps us stay healthy, free of poison, organic foods enhance taste and longer shelf–life.
“Has antioxidant content, improves heart condition, antibiotic resistance, pesticide cutback, stronger immune system, products are poison-free, Lower levels of toxic metals etc’’.
Obi concluded that with the crisis that has confronted humanity from strange diseases, to unfriendly environment, natural disaster, communal clashed, war etc. It became obvious that the starting point is environmentally friendly options and the organic agriculture has taken the lead.
Agriculture
IWMI: Promoting affordable irrigation technologies for smallholder farmers
Mariam Sanni
Smallholder farmers are challenged with erratic rainfall leading to drought spells, crop water stress and eventually reduced growth and yield penalties
Water insecurity is the major risk to smallholder farmers and a major driver for low investments in agricultural innovations
Even when water resources are sustainably available, smallholder farmers are unable to invest in irrigation equipment due to high upfront costs.
Smallholder farmers have limited access to loans and credit facilities even though irrigation usually is a profitable investment.
Promoting affordable irrigation for smallholders involves increasing access to low-cost technologies like drip and sprinkler kits and solar pumps, and supporting them with financial tools like subsidies and credit.
Also the Farmer-Led Irrigation Development (FLID) has helped farmers to independently invest in, manage and maintain irrigation equipment, adapting technologies to local needs without relying on large-scale projects, reduces farmers’ reliance on erratic rainfall and leads to increased farm investments (good seed, fertilizers, etc.)
Farmers move from 1 rain-fed crop, to multiple harvests per year, boosting yields, income, and food security
Nigeria and other countries have high potential for solar-based irrigation, irrespective of the type of water resources.
As part of efforts to boost local capacity to produce and maintain simple, low-cost irrigation, International Water Management Institute, IWMI through multi- stakeholder dialogues, policy support is partnering with stakeholders created an enabling environment for inclusive and sustainable irrigation development .
The Researcher , Agricultural Water Solution, IWMI Dr Adebayo Oke during his presentation at the International Conference on Climate Change and Just Energy Transition 2025, highlighted that the institute has foster SMEs’ inclusive scaling of bundled irrigation solutions through inclusive business model development and strategic partnerships
The Conference which was theme: Sustainable Clinate Resilience and Just Energy Transition in Africa: A Collaborative Pathway through Policy, Capacity Building, Research and Inclusion was held in Abuja.
He added that its has deployed an impact accelerator program to develop new bundled solutions and SME collaborations that address multiple value chains
According him, IWMI has attracted sustainable finance investments in SMEs to fast-track the adoption of bundled water solutions by smallholder farmers.
Speaking on experience in Nigeria: scaling solar irrigation solutions –Solar scaling pathway studies (Kaduna, Kano, Kebbi) has stratifying the smallholder farmers using the Discrete Choice Experiment.
He mentioned bundling of irrigation technology and financial services to determine scaling pathway/different financing models.
Dr Oke added they also developed a credit facility to enable the scaling of SPI.
Furthermore, he stated IWMI-West & Central Africa Priorities for 2024-2030 as building resilient agric food system against climate change , leveraging water for resilience in fragile and conflict affected settings, enabling circular water and food economy innovations, supporting water infrastructure and allocation decisions among others .
The Country Director , Ghana and Regional Representatives for West and Central Africa, Professor Kehinde Ogunjobi in an interview with newsmen at the event highlighted the importance of evidence-based data for farmers, aquaculture, and environmental ministries.
He said that there is need to raise awareness and emphasized the importance of government support for research and developmental projects on climate change and its impact on agriculture, livelihood, and other sectors.
Professor Ogunjobi has implored government to build capacity of people working in the field of climate change and capacitate farmers to turn evidence-based data into reality.
He encouraged the government to do more to support research and address the impact of climate change, which is more evident in the West African region compared to developed countries.
He urged stakeholders to collaborate with the government and institutions like IWMI Ghana to improve the impact of climate change mitigation and adaptation efforts and improve the livelihood of people in the region.
He noted the political shift in the US, with the previous administration no longer supporting climate change initiatives, emphasizing the need for Africa to look inward.
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