2016 Activities

INAUGURATION OF SOUTH-EAST CHAPTER OF ASSOCIATION OF ORGANIC AGRICULTURE PRACTITIONERS OF NIGERIA Association of Organic Practitioners of Nigeria (NOAN) in collaboration with Healthy Foods for Consumers Initiative (hefci) inaugurates the South-East chapter of Association of Organic Agriculture Practitioners of Nigeria with the inception meeting held at the Nnamdi Azikwe University Faculty of Agriculture library on the 16th of August, 2016 at 11 a.m prompt. The inception meeting was anchored by hefci Co-ordinator, Prof. Nkiru T. Meludu and was covered by radio and television in the region which also assisted in creating awareness on ecological organic agriculture in the region. The meeting had in attendance about forty participants including organic stakeholders ranging from producers, researchers, consumers, marketers, agro-processors among others.

2016 YOUTH ORGANIC SUMMER SCHOOL The 2016 edition of the annual Youth Organic Summer School (Yoss) has come and gone. This year’s edition commenced between 25th of July to 27th August, 2016 and was full of exciting activities including: • On-the-farm practical on organic agricultural practices. • Music and games • Excursion to Songhai farm, Port-Novo, Benin Republic • Certificate of participation to participants

Other Projects carried out by Healthy Foods for Consumers Initiative  Organizing of workshops and seminar for farmers and extension agents on Ecological Organic Agricultural (EOA) practices in South-West, Nigeria.  Preparing and availing of policy documents and guidelines on ICT applications in Ecological Organic Agriculture to relevant policy makers and other stakeholders  Creating linkages and partnerships among actor organizations involved in transfer and dissemination of EOA practices  Preparing and availing information and communication materials for EOA awareness like branded T-shirts, calendars, Standing banners, posters and fliers.  Production of documentaries and educative materials of EOA production as guideline for new stakeholders  Production and marketing of organic agricultural produce/products

2015 Activities

Establishment of support communication infrastructure for EOA dissemination (farmer resource centers, information hubs, Websites, Database and other Repositories)
Training of farmers and extension agents on the use of EOA innovative communication strategies

Venues and Dates
Oyo/ Ogbomosho Zone, 21th April, 2015   
Saki Zone, 22nd  April 2015
Ibadan / Ibarapa Zones, 27th April 2015

2012 Activities
Inauguration of Children in Organic Agriculture
The inauguration of children in organic agriculture was held on the 16th of October, 2012 at the department of Agricultural Extension &Rural Development, Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry, University of Ibadan. Selected primary and secondary school pupils in Ibadan were invited for a seminar on Organic Agriculture and there was an excursion to an Organic Farm in the University of Ibadan. 
The Inauguration of children into Organic Agriculture was a seminar organized for young school pupils from selected primary and secondary schools in Ibadan wherein they were given lecture   on what Organic agriculture is all about, how to start practicing Organic Agriculture in their various school gardens/farms as well as encouraging them to start their own individual home gardens practicing Organic Agriculture. The program featured lectures from experienced organic farmers, puzzles and games on organic terminologies and practices were taught, refreshment and excursion to an organic farm in the University of Ibadan where they put into practice how to start their own organic garden/farm and how to apply compost manure on their farm for improved yield. The invited schools for the programme were University of Ibadan Staff School, Baptist Nursery & Primary School, University of Ibadan, Mimbar Children School, Kongi, Bodija, Sonbeam group of Schools, New Bodija, Ola Nursery and Primary school, Ajibode, The International School, Ibadan, Abadina College, U.I. Ibadan, Immanuel College, Samonda, Ibadan, All Souls group of Schools, Ibadan.
Training of Community Based Organizations (CBOs) and Extension Agents
The Training of Community Based Organizations (CBOs) and Extension Agents on how to disseminate information on Ecological Organic Agriculture in Nigeria was held at the Small Lecture Theatre, Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry, University of Ibadan on the 16th of October, 2012. Selected CBOs and Extension Agents in Ibadan were invited for training on Ecological Organic Agricultural Principles and Practices and there was On-the-Field Training of farmers on EOA Practices at the University of Ibadan Organic Farm. Read More………
 The Training of Community Based Organizations (CBOs) and Extension Agents on how to disseminate information on Ecological Organic Agriculture in Nigeria was held at the Faculty of Agriculture Small Lecture Theatre, University of Ibadan on the 16th of October, 2012. The extension agents present were trained on the dissemination of information and utilization of recently discovered Technologies needed to be transferred to farmers by Experts/Lecturers in Agricultural Extension Education and experienced Field Extension agents. They were also taught the use of audio-visual materials in information dissemination to farmers as well as the efficiency of using demonstration plots for effective result and adoption of technologies transferred to the farmers. The Program featured lectures from Resource Persons, Questions and Answers about Organic practices and Principles, Refreshment and Excursion to the University of Ibadan Organic Farm.
Training Of Widows and People Living With HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) On Capacity Building
The training of Widows and People Living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) in Akinyele Local Government Area of Oyo State was conducted to mark 2012 World Home Economics Day at the First Bank Building, Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry, University of Ibadan on the 6th of March, 2012.  The women were selected from the local government from various villages in Akinyele Local Government Area and they were given vocational skill on Wire works, Tie-dye and Soap making.
As part of HeFci’s Vision to build capacity and promote healthy living, a vocational training was organized for widows and PLWHA in Akinyele Local Government Area of Oyo State to mark 2012 World Home Economics Day at the First Bank Building, Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry, University of Ibadan. Resource persons were invited to train the women on various vocational skills like wire works, soap making, hat making and Tie-dye. The women were also given materials needed to start up the business for each of the skill acquired 
2013 ACTIVITIES
Follow up of the Selected Schools on Organic Agricultural Practices
The selected primary and secondary schools invited for the workshop were visited and given Agricultural inputs like vegetable seeds (corchorus, okra, amaranthus, solanum) maize seeds and compost manure. The pupils in each school were taught on the different methods of compost application to vegetables and other arable crops cultivated on their school gardens. The pupils were also taught the use of organic pesticide (neembicide) in combating pest infestations on their home and school gardens as well as the on the cultivation of Marigold to reduce pest Infestation.
2014 ACTIVITIES

• Provision of maize and vegetable seeds to the selected schools as well as visitation to the schools to ensure strict organic agricultural practices.
• Provision of organic pesticides to reduce pest infestation on cultivated crops.

INAUGURATION OF WOMEN AND YOUTH IN ECOLOGICAL ORGANIC AGRICULTURE (WYEOA), AFRICA.
The Inauguration of women and youth in ecological organic agriculture was held on the 20th of August, 2014 at the Faculty of Agriculture Large Lecture Theatre, University of Ibadan, Ibadan. Oyo State. The programme was organized by Healthy Foods for Consumers Initiative (HeFci) in collaboration with National Organic Agriculture of Nigeria (NOAN). The event was attended by organic farmers from Ajibode, women farmers from Elekuru, young farmers from the University of Ibadan.
The Inauguration of women and youth in ecological organic agriculture was held on the 20th of August, 2014 at the Faculty of Agriculture Large Lecture Theatre, University of Ibadan. The programme was organized by Healthy Foods for Consumers Initiative (HeFci) in collaboration with National Organic Agriculture of Nigeria (NOAN). The event was attended by organic farmers from Ajibode, women farmers from Elekuru, young farmers from the University of Ibadan. The opening prayer was said by a farmer, Chief Salimonu from Ajibode village and the opening address was delivered by Prof Nkiru T. Meludu, the Project Coordinator. Goodwill messages was delivered by the Dean of Faculty, Prof. E.A. Iyayi; NOAN President, Prof. G.O. Adeoye and Representative of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Mr. Isa Adamu. Sensitization on Ecological Organic Agriculture was done by the representative of EOA Coordinator, Nigeria; Miss Oyin Olanrewaju while Mrs AdeOluwa from NIHORT did the sensitization of Women and Youth in Ecological Organic  Agriculture (WYEOA). Mr. Toyin Abolade coordinated the comments session while Mr. Femi Ayanfeoluwa did the closing remarks and vote of thanks. The Closing prayer was said by Mrs Ode, the leader of Elekuru women farmers while Mrs Oyewole of the Department of Agricultural Extension &Rural Development coordinated the group photographs after the programme. The programme came to an end by 2p.m with the exhibition of organic products brought by the Ajibode and Elekuru farmers such as corchorus (ewedu), celosia spp (soko), okra and golden melon

UPCOMING EVENTS
The 4th International Society for Organic Agriculture Research (ISOFAR)
The 4th International Society for Organic Agriculture Research (ISOFAR) conference/18th IFOAM Organic World Congress holds between 13-15 October, 2014 at Instabul, Turkey. The conference is themed: Building Organic Bridges. Visit www.ifoam.org for further information.
The 3rd Africa Organic Conference

• World Congress on women and Youths in Ecological Organic Agriculture is scheduled for 2 -3 October 2015 in Abuja Nigeria.
• The 3rd Africa Organic Conference is scheduled to take place in Abuja, Nigeria from October 4-7 2015. The conference is themed: Achieving Social and Economic Development through Ecological and Organic Agricultural Alternatives.