Adamawa State deputy governor Professor Kaletapwa Farauta has advocated channelling funds saved from fuel subsidy removal into agricultural activities to mitigate hardship on the people.
Speaking as a keynote speaker at the 30th Annual Conference of the Agricultural Extension Society of Nigeria (AESON), held at the Taraba State University, Jalingo, Farauta suggested that a digital platform should be provided for 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 fossil fuels would optimise resource utilization and protection of the environment.
According to her, the 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 and collaboration, for government agencies, private sector players, civil society organizations, and international partners to foster common ground and improve food security.
In his remarks, Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security in Taraba State, Professor Nicholas Oliver Nemassan, stated that the Taraba state government has slashed tuition fees for students and procured 750 units of global mini tractors as a measure to mitigate the ripples of subsidy removal and boost agricultural activities.
Nemassan further disclosed that students can benefit from the support while promising government support to the university to scale up its IGR.
He added that 5,700 metric tonnes of assorted grain was procured by government to be distributed free to the citizenry in the state.
The president of AESON, Prof. Nkiru Meludu, explained that the national agricultural extension policy has reached an appreciable stage, having been approved by the federal executive council as a good move.
Earlier, the vice chancellor, Professor Sunday Bako, who declared the event open, said the conference findings would be used for the accreditation of some of the university’s programmes.
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