Lack of space and urbanisation are no longer hindrances to farming as urban dwellers can grow healthy vegetables in their little corners, a nutritionist has said. Chairman, Nutrition Society of Nigeria (NSN), Lagos State Chapter, Dr Oluwatosin Adu, made the observation in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos. Adu spoke on the sidelines of a seminar on “ Organic, Urban and Sustainable Farming’’ organised by NSN in collaboration with Grow West Africa Biointensive. “We want to say that in your own little corner, you can grow what you eat. “Even if you are living in a room apartment, you can have a small space where you can grow little vegetables. “Our aim is to promote adequate nutrition and inform people on how to eat well.
“Th is is because nutrition is the bedrock of health, the bedrock of development; when we tell people to eat well, we show them how to eat well,’’ he said. Th e chairman called on Nigerians to embrace organic urban farming to promote healthy life. “When you own your garden, you can control what you put in it and what goes out, unlike the ones you get from market which you do not know how they were grown,’’ he said. Mrs. Abosede Benedict, an organic farmer and Chief executive Offi cer of Grow West Africa Biointensive Ghana and Nigeria, defi ned organic urban farming as growing foods naturally in any available space.
‘“Organic farming is a system where the ecology, microorganisms in the soil and environment are not aff ected through the use of chemicals such as inorganic fertilisers and pesticides. “Urban farming ensures that farming is not necessarily done on a farmland but on any available space in and around the home. “Our advocacy is on people growing foods themselves and not relying on buying food outside because it has many nutritional and economic advantages. “We can all do something no matter the space or area we live; even if it is cucumber that you can grow, so far it is organic and fresh, it is healthier,’’ she said. Benedict also listed more benefi ts of organic farming. “When you eat organic food, you are eating food that has high antioxidants that will give the body high immunity; with organic farming, one eats foods full of calories. “One also knows the source of the food. Th e calories and nutrients in foods grown personally in an organic way are balanced; when eaten, one will not have great concerns about what happens to the body afterwards because one knows how the food is grown,’’ she said. Th e farmer added that organic farming reduced artifi cial processing and additives.
