The Association of Organic Agriculture Practitioners of Nigeria (NOAN) has announced that its 2024 Annual General Meeting (AGM) will focus on Nigeria’s organic agricultural value chain, the opening of organic markets, and a charge to Nigerians to ‘go organic’.
NOAN, through a communique on Friday, noted that the AGM − which will commemorate its 15th anniversary − will be held at the Delta State University of Science and Technology, Ozoro, from the 23rd – 26th of this month.
The association − which is the national and recognised umbrella body for organic agriculture and agroecology stakeholders in Nigeria − according to the communique, is affiliated with regional (WAfrONet), continental (AfrONet), and global (IFAOM-OI) organic agriculture and agroecology organisations.
The president of the association, Jude Obi, stated that the AGM will bring together its stakeholders, cooperatives, and cooperate and student members to appraise and address matters concerning the association.
Jude Obi − who teaches Pedology and Pedometrics in the Department of Soil Science and Land Resources Management, University of Uyo − added that the AGM will feature technical workshops, trade fairs, exhibitions, networking, and reports on Ecological Organic Agriculture (EOA) and Knowledge Centre for Organic Agriculture (KCOA).
“It is the second time the AGM will be combined with a technical workshop and the third time it will come with the exhibitions of organic produce and products. The association will hold its election in this year’s AGM too.” Obi added.
The NOAN president stated that some of the pressing issues that will be raised in the meeting include private and corporate membership drives, advocacy for organic agriculture and wealth creation, youth participation in organic agriculture, sourcing for grants and projects for the development of the organic agriculture, organic inputs in crop and animal production, food safety, human health, and medicinal plants cultivation, harnessing indigenous knowledge for organic agriculture development, environmental sustainability among others.
He also listed the achievements recorded by the association, which included findings in research and development; expansion and elaboration of the organic value chain; policy statement on organic agriculture; increased advocacy and awareness on organic agriculture and agroecology; operationalisation of major decisions and modifications that will enhance the practice of organic agriculture; expansion and strengthening of the reach and tentacles of the association for the benefit of the nation and humans for sustainable environment and human health; among others.
Obi seized the opportunity to encourage government at all levels to support organic agriculture and agroecology as one of the major sustainable means of agricultural practice that sustains the environment, human health, and livelihoods.
He stressed that budgetary provisions should be made for organic agriculture without prejudice to conventional practices because organic agriculture and production serve as food and drugs.
“Every person should advocate for organic agriculture, directly or indirectly, for the preservation of the environment and human health,” he added.
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