A national conference on Agroecology which brought together key actors and stakeholders in the agroecology and organic agriculture space, has emphasized the need for cohesiveness of efforts towards ensuring the adoption of agroecological practices and an enabling policy environment as well as relevant research.
Participants at the conference that included farmers, researchers, civil society organisations, youth and women’s groups, policy advocates and the media specifically called the Government at all levels to recognize agroecology as essential for national food sovereignty and agricultural sustainability, and to create a supportive policy framework.
They noted that agricultural systems across the world are under increasing pressure to meet growing food demands, adding that the pressure is high in Nigeria due to purportedly high population indices, coupled with climate change impacts, declining soil fertility, inadequate support for farmers and insecurity.
The conference with the theme: “Advancing Agroecology Principles and Practice for Food Sovereignty in Nigeria” tasked Government at all levels to ban GMOs and promote, invest in agroecology research and practice for increased food productivity.
A communique issued at the end of the conference which was made available to Forefront News stated that Agroecology presents viable solutions to the interconnected challenges by emphasising ecological balance, biodiversity, farmer empowerment, and food sovereignty.
The conference participants noted that the shift toward agroecology and organic agriculture is gaining momentum in Nigeria with the active support of civil society, stressing that Agroecological practices can increase food sovereignty, which, beyond food security, protects and promotes the right of choice and control by local communities and people of their seeds and foods.
The conference brought together key actors in the agroecology and organic agriculture space, including farmers, researchers, civil society organisations, youth and women’s groups, policy advocates and the media for a full day of dialogue, knowledge exchange, and strategic planning.
Specifically, the conference showcased and discussed the current state of agroecology and organic agriculture in Nigeria; fostered collaboration among farmers, civil society organisations (CSOs), government ministries, academia, and the media; identified policy gaps and opportunities to scale agroecological and organic practices; and exposed false solutions to the food and climate challenges.
The conference observed that Agroecology assures healthy and culturally appropriate nutrition, increased crop diversity, improved soil health by enhancing and improving soil microbial populations, climate change mitigation through reduced emissions from industrial processes, climate change resilience through biological diversity and empowerment of local communities.
The communique further stated; “Success stories abound on how agroecology can transform food systems, e.g the introduction of drought-resistant orange-fleshed sweet potatoes in Pelungu, Ghana, improved food security and nutrition in a dryland farming area. In Kenya, the Participatory Ecological Land Use Management (PELUM) Network promoted African leafy vegetables, reviving traditional
agricultural practices and organic farming techniques.
“This led to improved livelihoods, increased crop production, and stronger community-based enterprises. In Malawi, the ‘Never Ending Food’ initiative uses permaculture-based agroecology to combat food insecurity. By diversifying food production and improving nutrition, it has created year-round food sources for communities, transforming degraded land into productive farms.
“In Nigeria, the Be the Help Foundation Agroeforestry farm effectively demonstrates how agroecology through agroforestry can assure economic empowerment for farmers as well as environmental sustain-ability.
“Barriers to agroecology and by extension, food sovereignty include limited knowledge, poor access to land (including land grabs) and credit for farmers, poor extension service, and dependence on toxic/synthetic agrochemicals.
“Another major barrier to food sovereignty in Nigeria is the spread of GMOs, which creates dependency on multinational corporations for seeds and food production. GMOs also lead to soil degradation through the use of toxic herbicides.
“The goal shouldn’t be merely to achieve food security but food sovereignty, where healthy food is guaranteed, and the local people are in control of their seed and food systems. Food sovereignty must take precedence over mere food security.
“Food security cannot be achieved without local control over food systems, seeds and agricultural processes (food sovereignty). But this can only be achieved by creating policies that protect farmers’ rights and agricultural autonomy.
“Champion the adoption of agroecological practices across Nigeria’s farming communities. Prioritise food sovereignty over food security in policy discussions and implementation. Advocate for research and development in agroecological methods suited for the Nigerian context, and strengthen both academic and farmer-led research initiatives and ensure farmers’ rights to seeds, land, water and other resources as well as the preservation of their traditional seed varieties,” it stressed.
The communique further stated; “Address the critical knowledge gap regarding agroecology’s importance for our national development, promote local food systems that preserve indigenous knowledge and cultural food practices, push for government investment in agroecological research and extension services, create improved communication channels and knowledge-sharing practices among farmers, communities, researchers, and policymakers to enhance the visibility and effectiveness of agroecological methods.
“Follow up with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security on the plan to mainstream agroecology into national policies following the inclusion in Nigeria’s NDC 3.0.”
The conference also called on Nigerian citizens to embrace subsistence farming in their homes, support local food systems, and advocate for a healthy food policy, just as tasked all stakeholders to promote structured youth training programmes in agroecology to ensure the intergenerational transfer of indigenous knowledge and sustain Nigeria’s cultural food systems.
The communique also stated; “Academic institutions should integrate agroecology into school curricula and prioritise it within research institutes to deepen knowledge and innovation in sustainable agriculture.
“Government to enact policies to create and promote national seed banks that preserve indigenous seeds and protect farmers’ sovereignty.
“Government and relevant authorities to address growing insecurity and lack of access to land for farmers, particularly women and youth, by ensuring secure, equitable land tenure systems and protection for farming communities.
“Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security to develop and implement a comprehensive national standard for organic and agroecological practices, ensuring quality, safety, and sustainability in production systems.
“Government to train and deploy extension workers with specialized knowledge in agroecology to support farmers in adopting sustainable, climate-resilient practices.
“Government to create an enabling environment for marketing and promotion of agroecological produce and products.
The communique was endorsed by the 70 stakeholders made up of farmers, academics, youths, representatives of government agencies, women and CSOs and 20 organisations that included; Organic and Agroecological Initiative (ORAIN), Federation of Agricultural Commodity Associations of Nigeria (FACAN), Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC), GOTOMO Farms, Africa Projects Development Center,
Urban-Rural Environmental Defenders (U-RED), Be The Help Foundation, Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA), Kebetkache Women Development and Resource Center, Ubuntu Environmental Development Foundation and Environmental Rights Action (ERA).
Others included; Women Environment Programme (WEP), Centre for Food Safety and Agricultural Research, Network of Women and Youth in Agriculture, Women and Children Life Advancement Initiative, Youth for Environmental Sustainability and Development, GMO-Free Nigeria Alliance, Youth in Agroecology and Restoration Network(YARN), Gender & Environmental Risk Reduction Initiative(GIERI) and Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF).
