By Joseph Edegbo –
The Federal Government of Nigeria ( FG ), through the Ministry of Trade and Investment in collaboration with Poise Resource Center have trained no fewer than 60 farmers on organic agriculture.
Speaking at a One day workshop on capacity building for Castor and Ginger chain development for export in Kaduna on Thursday, the Deputy Director of Commondity, Federal Ministry of Trade and Investment, Jerry Kaura disclosed that the world is shifting towards organic aspect of farming production.
The Deputy Director who represented the Minister, Adeniyi Adebayo advised the participants to take the training workshop serious, just as he added that the Federal Government will give all the neccessary financial support to the farmers in order to improved on the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
Speaking to newsmen at the workshop, the National President of the National Ginger Association, Squadron leader, Nuhu Bagani Daudu, said that organic product has reached a climace whereby the organic products are better priced because of it benefits to the consumers.
Daudu further explained that the workshop was also to project the members in the Ginger value chain.
The National President also explained that: ” we are about to get registered with the ‘Trade Key’; US organisation through the value chain so that our Ginger producers can have a soft landing where middle man would not become a problem in exporting their Ginger”.
On accessing loan for members, he said, hence the need to have the farmers in clusters to ease accessibility of loan from the government.
” Presently, we are working seriously with a Nigerian bank on how to get loan for our members. Now, the bank is doing geo-refrence for our farmers. The bank is also trying to lift our product to a platform called easy club platform so that our farmers can have access to loan,” Daudu disclosed.
Aisha Yusuf who was the resource person, also emphasised on the need for the particpants to take the training workshop seriously, as it would help them to improved on their productivity.
While speaking, the State Chairman of National Ginger Association, Kaduna Chapter, Joseph Danboyi, said that the workshop was to refresh and educate the members for better productivity.
According to him, farming has graduated from normal production to a level where the products can be accepted globally.
” To face the reality in the farming business, being the reason why we have invited professionals to this workshop to give us ideas on what to do most especially now that we are talking about the organic side of farming produce that can be accepted at the international market,” Danboyi explained.
