The Chief Executive Officers Tremma Agro Services Limited/Executive Director PAN-AFRICAN Institute of Agribusiness Management, Rwanda, Dr. Emmanuel Abuhson, has urged organic farmers in Nigeria and Africa to strengthen their collaborative efforts in advocating for funding.
Dr. Abuhson, gave the advice while training journalists and other organic farmers on the topic “Innovative Agro Financing: Pathway to National Prosperity,” recently on Journalists-Go Organic Platform.
“We will be looking at innovative agro financing and our focus will be funding organic farming in Nigeria, we will take a look at gaps and opportunities.
“As we advocate for healthy food production and environment, growing organic crops is important, however the cost of organic farming is high.
“Organic farming tends to be costlier than conventional farming due to several contributing factors. Hence, there is a need to explore how funding can be channeled to support organic farmers,” he said.
He suggested three different methods of funding for organic farmers which include Crowdfunding; Specialized Loans; Community-Supported Agriculture, and Cooperative and Farmer Networks funding as ways organic farmers can source funds for their farms.
According to him, risk perception, complex certification process; limited support infrastructure; and inadequate education are some of the barriers and gaps that many farmers encounter when it comes to financing their organic farming.
He said many farmers’ associations, which are tasked with representing farmers, including organic farmers, do not prioritise the promotion and positioning of organic farming to secure funding.
“Crowdfunding for organic farming projects is a contemporary and innovative approach that empowers farmers to harness the support of like-minded individuals who believe in the principles of organic agriculture.
“Crowdfunding platforms offer organic farmers a range of funding opportunities, allowing them to seek financial support for various projects or needs. These can include purchasing new equipment, expanding operations, adopting sustainable practices, or launching a specific initiative, such as building a green energy system on the farm,” he said.
