Contribute to the food sufficiency in the country, Abia D.Gov. tasks stakeholders in agricultural commodities
To increase and achieve food security and wealth creation, the Abia State Deputy Governor, Engr. Ikechukwu Emetu has stressed the need to critical examine factor militating against quality production and export of the State’s major agricultural commodities like yam.
Engr Emetu who stated this while declaring open a two-day workshop on management of yam vines in Aeroponics/ Hydroponics system at Nwabudo Agro Input Farm, Ntigha in Isiala Ngwa North L.G.A of Abia State noted that Nigeria as a leading producer of yam globally is being affected by poor qualify seed yam and insufficient availability to meet demand.
The Deputy Governor further said the government of Dr. Alex Otti is willing to improve the status of seed yam in the country for sustainable food production.
He urged the participants to take the workshop seriously so that they can write their name as one of those that contributed to the food sufficiency in the country.
In his Address, the Chief Executive Officer of Nwabudo Agro Seeds and Input Company Ltd, Sir. Christopher Nwanevu said that the workshop on the management of yam vines in Aeroponics/ Hydroponics System for seed production to enhance the production of high quality seed to maximized agricultural productivity
Sir Nwanevu disclosed that presently
they have three large scale seed companies and twelve medium scalp seed companies in Nigeria while others are small scale, seed growers and distributor.
In his remarks, the state Coordinator Federal Ministry of Agriculture And Rural Development, Mr. Aloysius Mba said that federal government has ensured that food availability and security innovations to meet up both domestic and international food demand.
Mr Mba further said that the introduction of hydroponics and aeroponics system of yam seed multiplication is borne out of the desire to solve the problem of shortage and non availability of quality yam seedlings to meet up with farm demand.
Charles Reporting From Deputy Governor’s Office.