By Daniel Tyokua
The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) Agriculture and Rural Development Secretariat on Tuesday sensitised farmers in the territory on how to avert Fall Armyworm infection in maize and other related crops.
During the sensitisation in Kwali Area Council, the Mandate Secretary, FCT Agric secretariat, Mallam Abubakar Ibrahim, said the initiative was to help create more awareness to farmers on how to curb the pest from destroying crops.
He said about 250 farmers were drawn from the six area councils of the territory on the practical identification, management and control of FAW.
Ibrahim who was represented by Ishaq Sadeeq, Director of Administration And Finance (DAF), reiterated that the ARDS will do everything within its means to make sure that it supports the programme, which will boost food security in the Territory.
He noted that the FAW menace has always been a very big problem, and looking at the percentage of the ratio, if tackled effectively, about 30% will go.
According to him, the FCT Administration through the ARDS will support farmers, by making sure that they are well sensitised and have unhindered access to all the inputs needed to help tackle this problem.
“So if nothing is done, 100% of farmlands or whatever they produce, will go completely off, that’s why we are really giving them all the support and sensitisation needed.
In her remarks, the FCT Co-ordinator Ad-hoc Committee on Fall Army Worm( FAW) and Director, Agric Services, Mrs Francisca Ihekadu, noted that since 2016 FAW has brought tension and crisis to the farmers, even as it portends danger to food security, which is why there is a global action for its management and control.
She disclosed that the FCTA through her Ad-hoc Steering Committee on FAW is intervening to ensure that FCT enjoys food security by preparing farmers towards controlling and managing FAW in 2022 farming season.
According her, FAW thrives well when there is a dry spell during the rainy season; and Nigeria Metrological Agency (NIMET) has predicted 15 days dry spell over FCT between the month of May and June, 2022, which is not good for maize production in the Territory due to FAW infestation
While urging farmers to plant when rain has established in the month of July, 2022, the Director, encouraged them to put into practice the knowledge from carefully selected resource persons, so as they can be part of the success story of food security programme in the FCT.
Similarly, National Coordinator Project for FAW, Dr. Adeleke Adetunji, noted that the workshop, which is in line with the advocacy for constant sensitisation of farmers, is very timely and apt towards ensuring that the prevalence of FAW is effected managed and controlled.
He commended the FCTA for reawakening the campaign, which he described as the right step in the right direction, as it would help mitigate the impact of the pest on farmers.
