Umuahia, Dec. 9, 2022
Stakeholders in agricultural sector have advised farmers to source their inputs from certified seed agents and research institutions with linkage groups.
This is contained in a communique they issued at the end of their two-day Monthly Training Review Meeting (MTRM), held at the National Root Crops Research Institute (NRCRI), Umudike, Abia.
The meeting was organised by the Abia State Project Coordinating Office of Livelihood Improvement Family Enterprises, Niger Delta (LIFE-ND), in conjunction with Abia State Agricultural Development Programme (ADP).
They urged farmers to patronise research for improved and disease resistant seeds, noting that agriculture has shifted from subsistence to commercial level.
The stakeholders identified good agronomic practices, safe and environmental friendly method as key to increased agricultural productivity, food security and increased income generation amongst the people.
In his production recommendation, Dr Chika Ezebuiro, the South-East Coordinator of Research Extension Farmers Input Linkage System (REFILS), identified cassava as the most important staple crop in the world besides cereals.
Ezebuiro, in his lecture entitled, “Varietal Identification and Good Agronomic Practices in Cassava Production” said that cassava is produced in 39 African countries.
According to Ezebuiro, who is the Team Leader, ADP activities, cassava is needed in the livestock and pharmaceutical industries, confectionaries and for other industrial uses.
Another resource person, Dr Ugochukwu Onyegbule, identified poor seeds, adulterated products and activities of middlemen as some of the major problems in oil palm marketing and processing.
Also in his presentation on “Poultry Diseases and Management” Dr Hyginus Uzuegbu said that diseases are the major causes of financial loss in poultry production.
He advised that environmental hygiene, use of quality water and feed must be observed in poultry production to reduce the incidence of disease.
Mr Anthony Nwaobilor, the Rural Institution, Youth and Gender Officer of LIFE-ND, said the group decided to support ADP to organise its monthly meeting that was stopped since five years ago due to paucity of fund.
According to him, since we have been engaging ADP extension agents to service our communities, we felt there was need for them to use new technologies rather than the old ones they have been relying on.
Earlier, the ADP Programme Manager, Chief Israel Amanze, thanked LIFE-ND for the co-sponsorship of the meeting.
He urged the participants to encourage the development of technology and transfer to farmers.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that participants were drawn from the three ADP zones of Aba, Ohafia, and Umuahia, NRCRI and LIFE-ND.(NAN)
