Agriculture

FCTA Reiterates Commitment Toward Attainment Of Food Security

Published

5 years ago

May 16, 2020

…Sets guidelines for operations in the Agricultural sector

Joel Ajayi

With the relaxation of the lockdown amidst the Covid-19 pandemic, the Agriculture and Rural Development Secretariat of the FCT Administration has reassured farmers of the Administration’s commitment to step up the provision of support towards the attainment of food security.

The Acting Secretary, Agriculture and Rural Development Secretariat Mr. Ibe Prospect Chukwuemeka stated this in Abuja when he issued the Safety Protocols for Agricultural activities in the FCT.

According to him, the measure is to mitigate the spread of the disease. “The Agricultural Sector as you know is key to our collective desire to attain food security and job creation. This is why the FCT Administration is putting in place these measures aimed at protecting our farmers as they go about their various Agricultural activities”. Ibe said

The FCT Administration under the leadership of Hon. Minister Muhammad Musa Bello and the Minister of State Dr. Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu he added are in discussions at various levels with the AfDB, Central Bank of Nigeria and other Corporate organisations towards the actualisation of the food secutity, wealth creation and empowerment of FCT residents, through the implementation of various initiatives that will propel the growth of the sector in the FCT as wel as other routine support programmes.

The operational guidelines covers 5 key sectors which includes: Abattoir and slaughter slabs; Veterinary Clinics; Livestock Markets; Fish processing Facilities and Agric Extension Services.

“The guildlines are, Strict Surveillance of all entry points into the FCT to ensure that meat brought into the FCT are duly certified by Veterinary officials to be safe for consumption.

“The use of infrared thermometers will be mandatory for all those entering the facilities.

“Protective items such as hand sanitizers and running water with antibacterial soap will be kept at the entry points into the facilities which must be used before access is allowed into any of the facilities.

“The use of face masks is to become mandatory.

“Veterinary health officials Butchers, Fish vendors as well as handlers of live birds cattle, goat and sheep will be required to use hand gloves and boots.

“The use of disinfectants for cleaning will be made more frequent in all the facilities especially the abattoirs

“Dealers of Agricultural inputs and food items will be encouraged to use transparent materials to cover them.

“In order to avoid congestion at the various facilities, social distancing measures will be adopted and enforced at all the facilities.

“Agric. Extension workers shall adopt social distancing measures in conducting their training progrrammes.”

Acting Secretary, therefore solicited for the understanding and support of the public, disclosed that a monitoring team has been put in place to ensure implementation and compliance.

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Agriculture

Group calls for improved agriculture innovations to boost food security

Published

1 month ago

April 30, 2025

The Gleamer

Mariam Sanni

A Non Governmental Organization, NGO in the agricultural sector, Self Help Africa, SHA has called for improved agricultural innovations to enhance food security and support farmers.

The Country Director, Joy Aderele made this call during in a media chat at the National Mid-term review for the abatement of short-lived climate pollutants in Nigerian Agricultural sector project held in Abuja .

According to her, a recent learning visit revealed that many innovative solutions exist in institutes but are not reaching farmers.

She added that there is a need for policies that would enable researchers in the agricultural sector to disseminate their innovations more effectively.

She emphasized the need for a protocol that allows researchers to share their work without fear of it being taken over is emphasized.

“So we just returned from a learning visit last week, where we had gone to some institutes, great institutes across the country, and I was surprised and amazed to see that we have a lot of innovation sitting in this institute, professors that have done a lot of things that will even make us not to have any issue a young guy in Nigeria. But this learning or innovation is not trickling down. People don’t know about it. The average farmer in my village does not know about the innovation.

“ So I would say that one thing that the ministry should do is to bring up this protocol that enable researchers in the agri space to disseminate their their data, their innovation freely so that farmers and our food security can improve,” she stated.

Aderele highlighted the major achievement of reducing bush burning among farmers, which improves soil and environmental health.

She explained that the promotion of climate-smart agriculture has led to higher crop yields, benefiting farmers and the community.

According to her, Post-harvest losses have been reduced, with rice residue now used to make briquettes, providing an additional income source for farmers.

The country Director said awareness of climate change has increased among farmers, leading to a shift away from traditional, harmful practices like bush burning.

Aderele revealed that the current pilot project in Benue state is aimed to be replicated across all 36 states and the FCT in Nigeria.

She noted that the organization has worked with over 500,000 small farmers globally, with a focus on making farming attractive to young people.

She added that the organization plans to share the lessons learned from the pilot project to improve farming practices nationwide.

The Director, department of agriculture land and climate change management device, Federal Ministry off Agriculture, Muhammed Bello emphasized the importance of sustainable land management for food security and the government’s goal of ensuring healthy soil for farmers.

He surged that the project on abatement of short-lived climate change pollutants is highlighted as a key initiative to clean up and fertilize the land.

He explained that the collaboration is aimed to replicate the project’s achievements and expand its reach across Nigeria, ensuring that more farmers benefit from healthy soil.

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