Farmers, agric Stakeholders collaboration, panacea to food scarcity in Nigeria —Minister
Barth Ndubuwah,Port Harcourt
The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mohammed Sabo Nanono has said that the collaboration efforts between farmers and key stakeholders in the agricultural sector in the country will not only enhance food security,but will promote rural farmers participation in food production.
Mohammed Nanono stated this while declaring open a four-day Training Programme for 30 Extension Agents of the State Agricultural Development Projects ADP organized by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in collaboration with National Agricultural Extension and Research Liaison Services (NAERLS) and SASAKAWA-Africa Association/Global 2000. The event took place at ADP Office, Rumuodomanya, in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State as part of the ongoing revitalization of the agricultural sector by the FMARD across the 36 State of the Country including the FCT, Abuja.
The Minister represented by the Rivers State Director of Agriculture, Loveday Etata explained that the training was a new initiative by the Ministry to boost agricultural services in the rural areas and to develop ideas and template that would encourage the unemployed youths to be part of food production in the country.
The Minister while commended President Muhammadu Buhari led government for his bold step in tackling food security challenge,urged the trainees to make judicious use of the training in order to achieve the target of the present government.
In their separate speeches, the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Ernest Umakhile and the Director, Federal Department of Agricultural Extension Engr. Frank Satumari represented by the Rivers State Programme Manager of ADP, Chief Darius Deeueh and Mrs. Gloria Iboroma said the training programme will assist youths in the rural communities to erase their unwillingness to embrace agriculture.
The Ministry’s readiness to end food scarcity, pointing out that the 4 day exercise will make the Extension Agents acquire model farming techniques.
Earlier the Rivers State Programme Manager of ADP, Chief Darius Deeueh who commended the Minister, Sabo Nanono, Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike, the State Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr. Fred Kpakol and other Directors for the training, said the programme was designed to build capacity of ADP agents in the 23 Local Government Areas (LGAs) in the State to reach out to rural farmers on the need to adopt new method of farming.
The Training which was attended by the National and State Coordinators of SASAKAWA Programme, Prof. Sani Miko, and Obiarije Friday featured paper presentations by Dr. Suleman Audu and Ologhodien Godswill Mark on new farming approach, key factors that affect implementation of agriculture, acquaculture,among others.
