Adamawa Deputy Governor Professor Kaletapwa Farauta has advocated that funds saved from fuel subsidy removal, be channeled into supporting agricultural activites as measures to mitigating hardship on the people.
Speaking as a key notes speaker at the 30th Annual Conference of the Agricultural Extension Society of Nigeria (AESON), held at the Taraba state University Jalingo Farauta suggested for digital platform knowledge sharing, where mobile application and and SMS-based platform be provided for local farmers for real time updates on weather, farming techniques and market prices as measures for food security.
She said renewable energy investments in solar powered irrigation and storage facilities to reduce dependence on fossils fuel, would optimise resource utilization and protection of environment
According to her, formation and strengthening of farmers cooperative societies to pool resources, reduce individual costs and improve bargain power for inputs and market prices is essential to mitigating the risks associated with fluctuations in fuel prices.
She further said addressing food security requires unified efforts, through partnerships, collobration for government agencies, private sector players, civil society organizations and international partners to foster common ground for improve food security.
“The best form of food security is to have your stomach secured from hunger”.
“When food is accessable and available, a state can produce young generations that can take any available jobs.
She added that, ” Government should empower our extension officers do as the have food security”.
The Deputy Governor enumerated agricultural inputs and fuel vouchers, improve rural infrastructure, implemention of public transportation subsidy, promoting mechanization and innovation as some of the recommendation for the wayfords as aftermath of fuel subsidy removal still bite harder
In his remarks, Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security Taraba state, Professor Nicholas Oliver Nemassan stated that, Taraba state government has slashed down tuition fees for students across the state and procured 750 units of global mini tractors for farmers as meaure in mitigating the ripples of subsidy removal and boost agricultural activities.
Nemassan further disclosed that student can benefit from the support, while promising government support to the university to scale up it IGR.
He added that 5700 metric tonnes of assorted grain was procured by government to be distributed free to the citizenry in the state.
The president AESON Professor Nkiru Meludu explained that the national agricultural extension policy have reached appreciatable stage having been approved by the federal national executive council as a good move.
Meludu assured members of ensuring accessibility and inclusivity for members and partners as the federal ministry of agriculture towards tackling food insecurity.
Earlier, Vice Chancellor, Professor Sunday Bako who declared the conference open said the conference findings would be used for accreditation of some of the university’s programs.##
By Hussaini Hammangabdo
Press Secretary
