Nigeria to leverage on organic agriculture to boost food production: minister

The Nigerian government aims to use the organic agriculture sector to enhance food production in the West African country, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Audu Ogbeh said on Wednesday.

He told reporters in Abuja that government has begun to pay greater attention to that sector by providing organic inputs, including organic fertilizers and bio-pesticides.

"Efforts are ongoing to make the sector a major Gross Domestic Product (GDP) earner in the country and the Agric ministry is providing an enabling environment for actors within the value chain of agriculture to do their business successfully," Ogbeh said.

The drive will also complement the government's economy diversification agenda, and improve the livelihood of Nigerians, the official noted.

"It is high time the country leveraged on the potential of organic farming and the Nigerian organic farmers through international acceptable standards target, a big share of the world organic trade," he added. Endit