By Daniel Tyokua
The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) on Wednesday, began engagement of stakeholders in agricultural sector to promote food security.
Speaking at a stakeholders’ engagement on development of agricultural policy and implementation plan in Gwagwalada, acting Director Planning, Research and Statistics FCT Agriculture and Rural Development Secretariat, Umar Malamiyo said the initiative would help government officials and stakeholders to identify key areas that will help farmers grow major crops in large quantity.
He said most farmers in the territory lack the basic knowledge on irrigation activities and growing of some crops.
According to him, the maiden initiative is being developed as a specific policy that will help FCT achieve its aims in ensuring food security in the practice of agriculture
Malamiyo represented by the deputy director in-charge of Public Private Partnership under the department of Planning, Research and Statistics, FCT ARDS Agu Igwe, said the policy document which will be ready in six months would offer solutions to all challenges in the sector.
He said, “The event which started in Gwagwalada Area Council, is to start developing a policy on agriculture, since inception of FCTA there has never been a specific policy to achieve our aims in ensuring food security in the practice of agriculture.
“The exercise will bring about a policy direction in line with the major objective of food security which will boost food production”.
The lead speaker, Professor Oyinkan Tasie, said the document Which will capture strategic areas in FCT agriculture sector is aimed at deepening the knowledge of farmers in promoting best agriculture activities.
“We are working with FCT Administration to develop an agriculture policy which is the first of its kind since the creation of FCT, through this the FCT will be able to articulate it’s vision in area of agriculture, it will address hunger and food security” Said Tasie.
Kayode Sani, Agric officer for FCT Agro-Climate Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes, said with the influx of people into the national’s capital, serious measures must be taken in promoting food security.
