Agriculture experts have advocated “smart farming practices” to combat climate change, improve productivity, and enhance food security in the country.
They noted that if climate change challenges were not nipped in the bud, more than 52 percent of the country’s agricultural production would be threatened by 2050.
The experts under the aegis of The Society of Action in Nigeria (SCAN), in collaboration with the University of Port Harcourt, disclosed this during a workshop organised for women and youth leaders on Thursday in Port Harcourt.
Dr. Clara Ifeanyiobi, Senior Lecturer, Dept. of Agriculture Extension and Development Studies, University of Port Harcourt, who is the project lead for the programme, said the aim of the workshop was to equip farmers with adaptative skills on climate change.
According to Ifeanyiobi, when these skills are incorporated into agribusiness, huge losses usually associated with climate change will be averted, while farmers livelihoods will also gain a positive turnaround.
“Today’s training is tailored to the identified areas of need, which are primarily in the area of crop and soil management practices for cassava, maize, and vegetable farming.
“We are excited that there will be a huge turnaround in this year’s harvest. We’ve been in the business of equipping farmers with climate-smart agricultural practices for over 10 years, and our results from our target farmers have been quite laudable.
“This one is a lot bigger and has synergized with key agencies like the Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NIMET) and the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IIT).
“We look forward to a bumper harvest across the 23 local councils in the state,” she said.
Ifeanyiobi also said that improved crop varieties like cassava stems and maize (SC-526) were also distributed to participants of the workshop (farmers) drawn from the 23 local government areas of the state.
Another resource person, Dr. Doris Akachukwu, Senior Lecturer at the Michael Opara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia State, urged the Federal Government to utilise agricultural resources in the country to tackle current food crises.
“Here in Nigeria, we have the land and manpower; rather than desire things that are far-fetched, we should put in more commitment and funding for agriculture.
“Nigeria should begin to look inward and fund large-scale production to ensure food sufficiency and employment for our teaming youths,” she said.
Akachukwu expressed worry over the poor commitment to agriculture by farmers and youths in the country, adding that lack of basic techniques, seedlings, environmental pollution, and the effects of green house energy were some of the impediments to agricultural productivity in the Niger Delta area.
Similarly, Dr. Bassey Udom, an Associate Professor and soil scientist at the University of Port Harcourt, said that the training would help the farmers learn innovative soil practices to help cushion climate change.
He also urged the federal government to tackle security, which he highlighted as the key to agricultural prosperity.(NAN)
