BY OLORUNFERANMI ODOFIN
Achieving food security in Nigeria is hinged on critically addressing factors of Climate change, insecurity , drought and environmental degradation and others .
This was the position of participants at this year’s Ondo State International Agric Show and Food Fair, OSIAFFA held at the dome in Akure the Ondo State capital.
The minister of agriculture and food security, Senator Abubakar Kyari declared the event opened which gathered stakeholders in the Agric sector.
The minister , Senator Kyari also advised farmers on the use of organic fertilizer to boost food production.
Represented by the Ondo State director, Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Mr Akeem Ogundeko , Senator Kyari also hinted that the Federal government had commenced opening up of arable landscapes as part of measures to check food insecurity.
On its part , The Ondo State government said kidnappers among other criminal elements hibernating in the state’s forests would be completely flushed .
Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu Represented by the commissioner for Agriculture, Mr Olayato Aribo expressed that with security operatives combing the forest and construction of rural roads, food security was achievable with
farmers confidence boosted as well.
He advised retired public servants to join agro-allied businesses while cocoa farmers should concentrate on quality and acceptable farm produce for export thereby discouraging the use of harmful agro chemicals.
Speaking in a lecture on ” Agricultural Commodities: Instruments for economic and industrial revolution, the executive director , Rubber Research Institute , Benin , Edo State , Dr Mrs Leila Dongo told farmers interested in rubber plantation to include tubers , cereals and legumes crops for sustenance as rubber plant take longer gestation period.
Earlier, the Chairman , Ondo State Cocoa Council, Dr Olusegun Awolumate and the chairman , Ondo State Agricultural Commodities Association, OSACA ,organizer of OSIAFFA , Mr Gbenga Obaweya enjoined government not to relent in addressing myriads of bottlenecks hampering growth of agriculture .
Other Stakeholders stressed on promoting climate Smart Cocoa production and other pragmatic strategies to tackle persistent challenges of old trees and aged farmers.
The occasion , witnessed by Agric scholars from tertiary institutions also featured exhibition of Numerous , exotic farm produce and new farming methods.