Governor of Delta State, Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa, has challenged organic researchers to come up with practicable solutions that can alleviate the problems farmers are facing.
His Excellency Senator Okowa stated this while declaring open The 15 Annual Conference of the Organic Agriculture Professionals in Tertiary Institutions in Nigeria (OAPTIN) held in Delta State Polytechnic Ozoro, Delta State, Nigeria with the theme “Bridging the Gap between Researchers and Practitioners of Organic Agriculture for Sustainable Production and Consumption”.
Dr. Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa, who was ably, represented by Prof. Patrick Muoboghare, Honourable Commissioner for Higher Education, Delta State challenged organic researchers in the fields of aquaculture, livestock and crop production to come up with practicable solutions that can alleviate the problems farmers are facing.
In his welcome address, Prof. O. J. Akpodiete, Rector of Delta State Polytechnic, Ozoro pledged the support of his Institution to OAPTIN and intimated participants with the array of organic produce from his Institution.
In his keynote address titled “Communicating organic agriculture technologies effectively to stakeholders for sustainable production and consumption”, Prof. Ike Nwanchukwu articulated steps to strengthen the linkage between various stakeholders, Government, researchers, producers, input suppliers, consumers and others in the value chain system.
A lead paper titled “Update on Organic Agriculture Research: Nigeria as a Case Study” was delivered by Prof. Victor Olowe. The high point of the Conference was the presentation and launching of Journal of Organic Agriculture and Environment Vol. 6 (2018) and Vol. 7 (2019) by Prof. E .A Makinde, National Coordinating Scientist of OAPTIN.
The local organizing committee chairperson Dr. Mrs. Atoma Charity Nwamaka, School of Agriculture thanked His excellency Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa, Governor of Delta State who was ably represented by Prof. Patrick Muoboghare, Honourable Commissioner for Higher Education, Delta State, Hon. Julius Egbedi, Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural resources, Rt. Hon. Funkekeme Solomon Former Governing Council Chairman, Delta State Polytechnic, Ozoro Prof. O. J Akpodiete, Rector Delta State Polytechnic, Ozoro , Prof Olowe V. I. O, President of NOAN, President of OAPTIN, Prof. Makinde, LOC members and all participants of Organic Delta.
A total of 58 participants registered for the conference and were drawn from 16 Higher Educational Institutions (HEIs), National Board of Technical Education (NBTE), Delta State Ministry of Agriculture and farmers.
