About Us

Organic and Agroecology Initiative (ORAIN) is established to unite and coordinate organic and agroecology activities in Nigeria at high level. Thus, ORAIN is a Coalition of organic and agroecology organizations in Nigeria.

THE VISION OF ORAIN

Food secured Nigeria, with improved livelihoods and sustainable ecosystem, through innovative organic and agroecological approaches.

MISSION OF ORAIN

To contribute to food security and livelihoods through sustainable ecosystem and safe crops, livestock, wildlife, fisheries and aquaculture production, based on the principles of organic agriculture and agroecology

Organic Agriculture and Agroecological practices are becoming increasingly recognized as components of the agricultural sector in Nigeria, with many stakeholder organizations working independently of each other. On the positive side, many governmental Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) are now including organic agriculture and agroecological approaches in their activities. Thus, there is a need for synergy among the stakeholders of organic agriculture and agroecology in Nigeria for a well-coordinated effort at improving food production, as well as delivering the benefits of both systems for the betterment of the country at large. Thus, ORAIN aims at providing a formidable technical backup for the MDAs aligning to organic and agroecology, as well as members of the coalition along the value chain of organic and agroecology.

ORAIN evolved from a National Steering Committee meeting of the partners of Ecological Organic Agriculture (EOA) Initiative project in Nigeria under the leadership of Farm Input Support Services Department of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD). The meeting which took place at Abuja in January 2021 recommended the need to upgrade the EOA Initiative in Nigeria to a full-fledge Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) as a sustainability plan of the EOA activities in Nigeria. A committee tasked to address the recommendation of the meeting came up with the name Organic and Agroecology Initiative (ORAIN). The committee recommended that the Coalition should address both organic agriculture and agroecology issues as solutions to food security and safety in Nigeria. The Committee recommended that the membership of the Coalition should be organizational, not individual. ORAIN is a charitable not-for-profit, non-governmental organization, with a mandate limited to the objectives set in this constitution.

Thematic areas addressing both Organic and Agroecology

  • Production.
  • Processing
  • Marketing
  • Training
  • Institutional development
  • Certification and Accreditation
  • Extension
  • Advocacy
  • Policy




Governance Structure of ORAIN

  • The Annual General Meeting of members referred to as “the Annual General Meeting (AGM),
  • Board of Trustees
  • The Governing Council



Objectives of ORAIN as a Coalition

  • Network non-governmental organizations involved in organic agriculture and agroecology in Nigeria for addressing food security and safety in Nigeria, as well as improvement in livelihood of stakeholders
  • Implement organic and agroecology activities in the country.
  • Facilitate mainstreaming of organic and agroecology activities into activities of relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDA) in the country.
  • Promote good governance, accountability and transparency among its members.
  • Promote agricultural values chain activities that sustain agroecology and sustainable development
  • Promote and provide appropriate platforms to showcase their goods and services of the Coalition members. Provide management and administrative consultancy to like-minded programmes and partners on organic and agroecology and
  • Interact with multilateral organizations operation in Nigeria and development partners globally towards addressing issues on organic agriculture and agroecology agriculture.
  • Mobilize resources within and outside Nigeria for ORAIN’s endeavours in promoting organic and agroecology activities in the country
  • Spearhead developmental activities on organic and agroecology research, extension, training, value chains and market development in Nigeria
  • Promote good governance, efficiency and accountability of members of the Coalition
  • Undertake any other functions as deemed necessary to address ORAIN’s objectives