The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) Agriculture and Rural Development Secretariat has begun 2021 demonstration and training of dry seasoning farming techniques to farmers in the territory.
Acting Secretary of the secretariat, Mr Ibe Prospect Chukwuemeka, inaugurated the training at Kilankwa -1 Village in Kwali Area Council, on Thursday in Abuja.
Chukwuemeka said that the initiative was aimed at increasing all-year crop production towards the attainment of food security in the territory.
He explained that the exercise signals the present FCT Administration’s commitment to strengthening agricultural sector, especially in the area of dry season farming techniques.
Chukwuemeka stated that the programme would help in promoting adaptable and affordable best practices in agriculture system.
According to him, the main objective of the dry season farming is to achieve sustainable all-year round increase in the production of food crops and vegetables.
“This exercise will help farmers understand the breakthrough in irrigation farming, agriculture research and also interact with the key officers with the desired knowledge,” he said.
Chukwuemeka said that the secretariat was working tirelessly to revive agriculture and create jobs for the youths, increase farmers’ income and boost the country’s economy.
Earlier, the Director of Agriculture Services, Dr Nkem Akanegbu, explained that the scheme was designed to boost food production round the year and provide household food security and improve livelihood of poor farmers.
She encouraged the rural farmers mostly the natives to key into the dry season farming, noting that dry season farming should not be left in the hands of outsiders.
Akanegbu disclosed that the secretariat had concluded arrangements to replicate the exercise in other designated farming communities across the six area councils of the FCT.
She said that in line with the subsidy policy, the FCT Administration, had paid 50 per cent of the inputs cost, while the farmers, through their clusters, were to pay 50 per cent when they start harvesting the crops.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the highlights of the event was the donation of water pumping machines, fertilizers and chemicals to some farmers. (NAN)
