Korede Abdullah 
Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Aliyu Abdullahi
UMUAHIA, Nigeria – The Federal Government and Abia State have renewed their commitment to expanding organic agriculture and agroecology, describing sustainable farming as a critical solution to climate change, food insecurity and declining soil health across Nigeria.
The commitment was reaffirmed on Tuesday at the 2026 Technical Workshop, Organic Fair and Annual General Meeting of the Association of Organic Agriculture Practitioners of Nigeria (NOAN) in Umuahia, where policymakers, researchers and industry stakeholders called for accelerated investment in climate-smart agriculture.
Speaking at the event, Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Aliyu Abdullahi, said organic agriculture remains central to Nigeria’s efforts to build a resilient food system while creating sustainable economic opportunities.
Represented by the Executive Director of the National Horticultural Research Institute, Prof. Atanda Lawal, the minister highlighted federal initiatives including the National Agroecology Strategy and the Nigerian Farmers Soil Health Scheme.
He urged greater youth participation, innovation and private-sector investment to unlock the full potential of organic farming.
“Organic agriculture and agroecology are essential for climate resilience, soil restoration, food security and sustainable economic growth,” he said.
Abia State Governor Alex Otti also pledged continued support for sustainable agriculture, saying his administration is implementing climate-smart farming programmes designed to improve productivity and livelihoods.
Represented by the Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr Clifford Agbaeze, Otti said agriculture remains a key pillar of the state’s economic development agenda.
The governor noted that several initiatives have been introduced to support farmers, promote environmental sustainability and strengthen food production.
Stakeholders at the gathering stressed the importance of research, innovation and policy support in scaling organic agriculture nationwide.
About the Author
Oluwatobi Adu 
