By Taofeek Lawal
The Acting Secretary, Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), Agriculture and Rural Development, Ibe Chukwuemeka, said the FCTA had begun the sensitization of farmers in the territory to the adaption and building of “Resilient Agricultural and Food Security Systems’’.
The Acting Secretary stated this during the launching of awareness campaign on Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA), at the Palace of the Sa’peyi of Garki, Alhaji Usman Nga’kupi.
He said the campaign would guide against the effects of climate change and reduce Green House Gas (GHG), emissions from agricultural activities
Chukwuemeka said the issue of climate change had become a global phenomenon which was aggravated by poor agricultural practices which include burning of fossil fuels, cutting down of forest trees and other negative impact.
He stated that the concept of the climate smart agriculture which the FCT administration was promoting was aimed at enhancing the integration of agricultural development and climate responsiveness toward increasing food production.
He said, “It is on this regard that the FCT administration directed that this sensitsation and awareness campaign be taken to all the 17 Chiefdoms of the FCT. This will enable the administration to educate the farmers and the general public on the adaptation and building of Resilient Agricultural and Food Security Systems, as well as the reduction of Green House Gas (GHG) emissions from Agricultural activities.’’
He said that the Department of Forestry had produced a multilingual handbook on Climate Change Adaption and Mitigation Measures in Agriculture.
The Director, Forestry, Mrs Caroline Opara, said it is important that FCT farmers be equipped and updated with modern farming methods which will promote environmental sustainability and increase output.
The Sa’peyi of Garki however called on the Department of Forestry to be proactive in addressing forestry encroachment.
The traditional ruler also emphasized on the need for the FCT Agriculture Secretariat to establish forestry guard to curtail encroachment in the territory.