The National Export Promotion Council (NEPC) has stressed the need for farmers to embark on organic agriculture to achieve food sufficiency in Nigeria. As part of the organization’s core mandates to make the world a market place for Nigeria’s non-oil products to thrive, to spearhead the diversification of Nigeria economy by expanding and increasing non-oil export for sustainable and inclusive economic growth, it engaged farmers, at a one-day training on the National Programme on Organic Food Export and Certification which took place in Nasarawa State.

The programme drew 187 participants from nine Local Government Areas of the state and was aimed at teaching farmers in the state to embark on organic agriculture to sustain the health of the soil, ecosystems, biodiversity and people. In a keynote address at the event, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Nigerian Export Promotion Council, Barrister Olusegun Awolowo, said that organic farming entailed traditional knowledge, innovation, modern science, technologies and practices, which would benefit the shared environment.

Barrister Awolowo said that organic foods are produced and processed in certified farmlands or facilities with the overall health benefit to include: improvements of the immune system, avoidance of food contaminants, reduction in the chances of developing food-borne diseases and general nutritional well-being. Sun News