By Joyce Remi-Babayeju
To ensure food security in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, the FCTA Secretary for Agriculture and Rural Development, Mallam Abubakar Ibrahim has urged farmers in the territory to practice the Greenhouse method of farming as measures are being taken to ensure their safety while going about their business of growing food for residents.
Ibrahim gave this assurance while allying the fears of insecurity by the resident farmers at the FCTA Executive Committee meeting on August 1st 2022 which was chaired by the FCT Minister Mallam Muhammad Musa Bello.
The Secretary while doing a presentation to the Committee on the activities of the Agriculture Secretariat said that the issue of food security in Abuja was being taken seriously by the FCT Administration.
He said, “This (food security) is something that has been bothering the Secretariat. We have discussed it at different fora, such as the FCT Security Committee and also at EXCO, on the need to safeguard our farmers so that we do not experience food insecurity in the FCT. ”
He assured the farmers of safety but cautioned them to be security conscious by reporting any suspicious person or situations to the relevant security agencies.
He also said that the Secretariat has been collaborating with the Nigerian Meteorological Agency, (NIMET) on weather related issues and sharing the information and analyses with the farmers, adding that the Secretariat is sensitizing farmers on best farming practices and techniques to ensure a bumper harvest from the current farming season.
Finally , Mallam Ibrahim also called on residents and Nigerians to eat what they grow and grow what they eat by embracing greenhouse farming which can be established at the backyards of most homes.
He said that the technology involved with green house farming will enable residents to grow their own vegetables and other foods within the vicinity of their homes.
Meanwhile the Secretariat has trained over 600 women and youths on greenhouse farming at the Gwagwalada demonstration farm of the Secretariat.
