The authority of the Nigerian Federal Capital Territory Administration, FCTA, has allayed the fears of farmers in the nation’s capital and urged them to go about the business of growing food for the residents of the Territory as measures are being taken to ensure their safety.
This Secretary for Agriculture and Rural Development in the FCT, Mallam Abubakar Ibrahim gave the assurance during the FCTA Executive Committee meeting which was chaired by the FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello.
The Secretary who made a presentation to the Committee on the activities of the Agriculture Secretariat said that the issue of food security was being taken seriously by the FCT Administration.
He said “This (food security) is something that has been bothering the Secretariat. We have discussed it at different fora, such as the FCT Security Committee and also at EXCO, on the need to safeguard our farmers so that we do not experience food insecurity in the FCT”.
While assuring them of their safety he, urged the farmers to be security conscious by reporting any suspicious person or situations to the relevant security agencies.
He also said that farmers in the FCT are expecting a bumper harvest from the current farming season as the Secretariat has been working closely with the farmers by sensitising them on the best farming practices and techniques.
He also said that the Secretariat has been collaborating with the Nigerian Meteorological Agency, (NIMET) on weather related issues and sharing the information and analyses with the farmers.
Mallam Ibrahim also called on residents to imbibe the mantra of President Muhammadu Buhari urging Nigerians to eat what they grow and grow what they eat by embracing greenhouse farming which can be established at the backyards of most homes.
He said that the technology involved with green house farming will enable residents to grow their own vegetables and other foods within the vicinity of their homes.
He revealed that his Secretariat has trained over 600 women and youths on greenhouse farming at the Gwagwalada demonstration farm of the Secretariat and urged all who desired to embrace greenhouse farming to go the Agricultural Development Programme (ADP) office for guidance and technical advice.
Dominica Nwabufo
