The Federal Government through the National Board of Technical Education (NBTE) in collaboration with Association of Organic Agriculture Practitioners of Nigeria (NOAN), Ecological Organic Agriculture (EOA) has approved curriculum for National Diploma (ND) in Organic Agricultural Technology in Colleges of Agriculture and Polytechnics.
The curriculum which was presented to the public during a two-day sensitisation workshop on Monday in Abuja for adoption of the curriculum for immediate implementation.
Speaking at the workshop, NBTE Executive Secretary, Professor Idris Bugaje who was represented at the occasion by Dr. Rufai Ibrahim, said the board has taken time and resources to come up with the curriculum and that the institutions have been granted approvals to commence the implementation of the curriculum.
He assured that the board hopes to see to it that the Higher Diploma level commences in a few years to come. Adding that the curriculum is tailored toward encouraging the adoption of organic farming.
Also, the National President, Association of Organic Agriculture Practitioners in Nigeria, Dr Jude Obi, commended the FG while calling on the schools to adopt the curriculum as flagship programmes that would create more job opportunities for the teeming youth in the country.
He said the only solution to the Nigeria soil degradation is to bring back organic amendment which will help restore that already destroyed land with synthetic inputs across the country.
He said Nigerians must be mindful of the food they consume, as organic according to him is the best option for healthy food and preservation of the environment.
The chairperson, Ecological Organic Agriculture (EOA), and Deputy Director, Farm Input Support Services, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Mrs Igoh Janet, said the curriculum is the best that could be introduced at this time, as studying Organic Agriculture would create more jobs.
According to her, the holistic study of the course in any of the institutions will give opportunities to such youth to work as farm managers.
She called on graduates who are still seeking jobs to take advantage of the course to embrace organic farming.
Delegates at the workshop however called on the institutions to introduce short time certificate courses on organic agriculture as this would encourage graduates and other farmers who may want to learn more about organic farmers to enroll.
