As part of efforts in tackling food scarcity and improving people’s, livelihood, the Federal and Ogun State government, in collaboration with International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), has organised a-day training programme in Rice and Cassava Value Chain Development Programme for farmers in Yewa South Local Government Area of the state, at the Multipurpose Hall, Yewa South Local Government Secretariat, Ilaro.
The training tagged, “Year 2024 Pre-Season and Seasonal Climate Change Down Scaling Steps”, aimed at encouraging farmers to adopt the modern System of Rice Intensification (SRI) and the new Climate Smart Agriculture Practice (CSAP), to boost their agro-business
Delivering the lecture, an Agriculturist from Value Chain Developmental Programme (VCDP), Mr. Joshua Adeniyi, tasked farmers to leverage and adopt the innovative skills and techniques in SRI, to enhance their crop productivity and profitability, assuring them of its economic benefits ranging from increased yields, less stress with little requirement of water among others.
Speaking on impact of climate change and its effect on rural infrastructure, an engineer from International Fund for Agricultural Development(IFAD), Mr. Williams Akinwunmi, highlighted some points on how best to mitigate the effect of climate change in rice and cassava production, urging farmers to embrace CSAP, which he said, would enable them to be eco-friendly.
He implored farmers to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by removing atmospheric greenhouse gases by avoiding bush burning, applying fertilizers in small dosage and ensuring water management during rice cultivation.
In their goodwill messages, a rice farmer from Moro in Yewa South Local Government, Mr. Emmanuel Bankole, commended government for its effort at improving crop varieties and periodic trainings for farmers in the state, promising to adopt CSAP, while a cassava farmer from Oke-Odan in Yewa South Local Government, Mrs. Omowunmi Ige, appreciated the organisers for training them on improved agricultural system, to ensure food sustainability and improved socio-economic wellbeing of the people.
Ajarat Omikunle,
ZIO, Yewa South
