INTRODUCTION

 

Presented by Mr. E.O. Ogungbe,

NECOFA NIGERIA REPRESENTATIVE

 

The Network for Ecofarming in Africa, Nigerian (NECOFA-Nigeria) was launched in December 2000 in Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria and has since been growing at an impressionable level. NECOFA-Nigeria has in the past two years since the last workshop held in UGANDA tried to strategise effective action by focusing on:

 

  1. Research and adaptation of eco-friendly technologies to the Mangrove Forest, Savanna, derived savanna and desert/dry ecologies in Nigeria.
  2. Development of extension workplan to train relevant extensioners and farmers on adaptable and adoptable eco-friendly technologies on farmers field.
  3. Facilitate information exchange between National Agricultural Research System (NARS), NECOFA-Nigeria, Extension Organisations and farmers on readily available and economically viable ecofarming practices.
  4. Promote small scale projects on ecofarming at farmers level.
  5. Interact adequately with the International Office of NECOFA and other National chapters.
  6. Strengthen the National Secretariat to be able to cope with load of work and ensure adequate information flow both at National and International level.

 

These various activities of NECOFA- Nigeria would be highlighted in this report to show the extent of achievement, problems encountered and possible solutions for enhancing the various activities that will promote NECOFA-Nigeria.

 

 

Membership

 

Membership of NECOFA-Nigeria today stands at 114 across 4 out of 6 geopolitical zones of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Membership spreads across the:

The other two geo-political zones are yet to be represented i.e. North-West and North central. This achievement was possible as a result of the membership drive which was possible with the election of officers to man each geo-political zone. It has however been difficult to establish offices in the two remaining geo-political zones because of distance and low turn-out of personnel to man and promote NECOFA-Nigeria sub-chapters in these two geo-political zones.

However, it is worthy of note that all the main agro-ecological zones in Nigeria is covered by the present membership status in Nigeria. Membership is also derived from the following agricultural disciplines:

 

All these disciplines are from various members in:

 

 

Meetings/Workshops

 

Various meetings and seminars were held both at the National level and at the chapter levels, in the past two years.

 

 

National Executive Meetings

 

Two National executive meetings were held in the past two years on 19/12/2002 and 13/12/2003 respectively.

These meetings were held to assess annual achievement and prepare the plan of work for the following year. The following were issues discussed at the two meetings:

 

  1. Review of the follow-up workshop held at Uganda.
  2. Registration of NECOFA-Nigeria as a corporate body
  3. Funding for NECOFA-Nigeria
  4. Adoption of the constitution of NECOFA-Nigeria
  5. Advertisement of recommended Ecofarming practices on media houses..
  6. Strengthening of the NECOFA-Nigeria secretariat.
  7. Preparation of Extension messages for farmers adoptions.

 

 

Chapter Meetings

 

At present there exist 8 chapters in Nigeria and out of these 5 chapters have since been holding meetings regularly and striving to increase their membership. The chapters are:

 

  1. OGADEP, Abeokuta
  2. Ijebu Chapter – Olabisi Onabanjo University –Ago-Iwoye
  3. Ogbomoso Chapter- Ladoke Akintola University, Ogbomoso
  4. Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi.
  5. University of Port Harcourt Chapter, Port Harcourt.
  6. The remaining three held just three meetings each and have not been very active in the past two years.

 

 

Workshop

 

Two chapters OGADEP, Abeokuta and Ijebu, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye organized one workshop and one seminar each respectively. The workshop was carried out to train extension agents on Pest control on vegetables using Neem ash – 62 extension agents attended this in Abeokuta.

The seminar organized by Ijebu Chapter was on sensitizing the 103 participants on the ideals of ecological farming – status, prospects and problems.

 

 

Registration

 

The process of the registration of NECOFA – Nigeria is at an advanced stage. The law stipulates registration with the corporate registration office, Abuja as an NGO. The application has been made and the secretariat is awaiting the reply from corporate Registration Office.

 

 

Extension Activities

 

NECOFA- Nigeria has passed some ecologically friendly technologies to farmers through extension agents in various agricultural development programmes in Nigeria. Such technologies/messages passed to farmers include:

 

  1. Use of Neem Ash to control pest on crops
  2. Control of nematodes on plantain and tomato field using wet cassava peels
  3. Use of organic manure (poultry waste) to fertilize yams.

 

Over 300 extension agents were reached with these technologies and they in turn have trained over 3,000 farmers directly on the farmers’ fields.

In addition radio announcement were made on these subject matter using the existing radio programmes of some Agricultural Development Programme and Ministries of Agriculture

 

 

Research Proposals for 2003 and 2004

 

At the 2nd  National Executive meetings the following trials were approved.

  1. Comparative Economic and Yield analysis of Farm Yard Manure and Inorganic manure on yam.
  2. Effectiveness of Leucaena leucocephala in the control of endo parasites in sheep and goat in Southwest Nigeria.
  3. Evaluation of weed control in oil palm plantation using Mucuna mucunoids and formulated herbicides.
  4. Integration of Tilapia Culture into Swamp Rice cultivation.
  5. Diagnostic survey of existing ecologically friendly agricultural practices in Nigeria.
  6. The use of environmentally sustainable Agricultural practices.
  7. A pilot survey of Pesticide usage in Agriculture and analysis of Residue of selected pesticides in soils and Food Commodities in Four States of Nigeria.
  8. Weed control in Maize Cassava Intercrop in Ogun State Nigeria.

 

 

Problems Encountered

 

Due to lack of resources most of these trials could not be established and some were abandoned mid-way due to lack of fund and resources. Strong efforts were made to raise funds amongst members to salvage the situation to no avail.

However, three of these trials were completed out of which two will be reported on during this workshop.

 

 

Status of NECOFA-Nigeria

 

NECOFA-Nigeria cannot be said to have resources to cope with its activities in Nigeria. Members’ contributions have been low and there has not been contribution from the private sector despite all efforts to convince them especially the petroleum industry on the need to protect the environment and aid ecofarming in their respective areas of operation. The National Secretariat is yet to be fully established and it operates mainly from the office of the Country Representative. There are really no hardwares that can facilitate record keeping and communication with the International Office and other National Offices. The designated zones and chapters are yet to have real offices as well and hence make information exchange even within the NECOFA Nigeria difficult and cumbersome.

 

Synopsis from NECOFA Nigeria Consultation

Contents

  1. Name and Address
  2. Goal
  3. Objectives
  4. Membership
  5. National Executive
  6. Other appointments
  7. Duties of the Executive members
  8. Eligibility to membership
  9. Membership subscription and Renewal
  10. Cessation/ Cancellation of membership
  11. Meetings
  12. Finance –Audit and Account
  13. Power of Executive Committee
  14. Suggestions, Complaints, Press Releases    
  15. and Constitutional review.

Article 5 which deals with National Executive will also be highlighted

 

The posts are:

 

 

 

 

S/No