Home >> Advice >> Capacity building >> Nigerian Organic Agriculture Network

Nigerian Organic Agriculture Network

Advisers of Agro Eco-Louis Bolk Institute are setting up a new organic research and development centre in Nigeria, under the name OOCORD. The main objective is to develop the organic sector in Nigeria with a wide variety of activities, such as training, market studies, demonstration and conversion projects. In the first year of the project we have organised a national seminar. This has served as the kick-off and sensitization event for anyone interested to become involved in organic farming, such as farmers, NGOs, government authorities and exporters. Similar seminars will be organised in all six regions in Nigeria during the next months.

Training and marketing

During the first year of the Nigerian Organic Agriculture Network, we developed training material for interactive training courses on organic farming and value chain management. We also trained OOCORD trainers on participatory training skills. We will offer the interactive courses in all six regions in Nigeria. Other services we provide are , the launch and maintenance of the OOCORD website and market surveys to determine the most suitable crops for export and domestic markets. A promising domestic market strategy is to introduce naturally produced tasty products, produced without fertilizers and pesticides. These products will be sold as organic products in traditional central market places.

Demonstration farm

Next to the OOCORD office, a large demonstration farm will be developed with on farm sales, an information centre and a research department. The objective of the farm is to offer an accessible demonstration site where farmers can get all the information and support they need. Furthermore, the demonstration farm will invite farmers to start using organic farming methods.

Train the trainer-approach

During the next years, we will gradually leave the responsibility to extend the organic network to the trainers of OOCORD. This is what we call our train-the-trainer approach, which is highly appreciated by our clients. The OOCORD-project (2011-2013) is funded by the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria.

For more information, please contact Karen Stork