Food Security: AUDA-NEPAD To Domesticate Juncao Technology

In a bid to ensure food security in Nigeria, AUDA-NEPAD/APRM says plans have been concluded to domesticate the Juncao technology which has been introduced to promote food security in Nigeria, by involving the University of Agriculture in Nigeria.

The chief executive officer (CEO) of AUDA-NEPAD/APRM Nigeria, Princess Gloria Akobundu, made this known after the just concluded three days national workshops on the “application of Juncao technology and its contribution to the achievement of sustainable agriculture and the sustainable development goals in Nigeria,” organised in Abuja.

Akobundu said to achieve the desired objectives for introducing the technology in Nigeria, there is the need for it to be domesticated in the country, that the Chinese government through the Ambassador to Nigeria has promised to establish the centre in the country if given 20 hectares of land.

She said that plans to involve institutions in Nigeria is because technology has a lot to do with training, teaching, procedures, and process. “So, for better understanding and effective usage, we need to domesticate any form of agricultural technology in our institutions, for better usage and communication, especially with the rural people.

“The Ambassador of Chinese to Nigeria said he needs 20 hectares to immediately start development of the Juncao centre and he said in the next two years the centre would be commissioned, that is the outcome of the workshop.

“So, we have agreed with the Chinese government through the Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, to put up the centre for us, and we will domesticate it to our University of Agriculture for sustainability, and for our young people to go there for research,” she said.

In a communique issued at the end of the workshop, participants recommended because the technology has wide applicability to mediate several degraded land uses, watershed management, and soil restoration including removing heavy metals and toxins from the soil they should promote this technology to be widely propagated and used.

They also recommended that they should embark on developing strategic communication tools in multiple languages that educate people on the benefit of the technology across the value chain; environmental mediation, animal husbandry, mushroom production, art and craft, biogas, organic manure and construction materials.

“Embark on extensive advocacy, community mobilization, and education using traditional rulers, corporative, professionals, and industry leaders/association.

“The government in collaboration with private sectors should set up multiple demonstration and distribution centers across the country that can be easily accessible to individuals and communities who are interested in adopting the technology.

“Engage in meticulous data collection and storage to better understudy this technology in the Nigerian climate that can help improve application, development, and domestication of the technology across the value chain,” the communique stated.