By Correspondent in Uyo
The training of media practitioners in farming and investment in agriculture has become imperative to boost food production and security in Nigeria.
Dr Glory Edet, Akwa-Ibom State Commissioner for Agriculture,made the remark on Thursday during a wrap-up workshop for CSOs and Media practitioners from Akwa-Ibom, Cross-Rivers, Enugu and Kogi States.
The Reporters reports that the states are involved Oil Palm production interventions of Solidaridad West Africa.
Edet, therefore,appealed to Solidaridad West Africa, an international solution-oriented Civil Society Organisations (CSO),to train media practitioners in the art of farming and investment in agriculture.
Represented by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Mrs Mary Bassey,the commissioner said the move would not only involve media practitioners as participants but stakeholders in the Agriculture sector.
“Take the media people as stakeholders and also train them to become farmers. Make them go into agriculture and make millionaires out of them. Agriculture is the fastest way to become millionaires.
“Farming, aside producing the food we eat and guaranteeing food security, is now a highly lucrative business which everyone must embrace to break the shackles of poverty,’’ she said.
Edet noted that Akwa-Ibom had taken Agriculture production very seriously, adding that it had been producing pepper, tomatoes and onions from its greenhouse assuring that, very soon, it would begin to export onions.
Speaking earlier, Dr Sam Ogallah, Senior Climate Specialist, Africa and County Technical Lead, Solidaridad Network, West Africa said media practitioners were drawn in as participants as part and parcel of the Solidaridad interventions.
“They are stakeholders in our work and if we want to transform the Agriculture sector in Nigeria, all hands must be on deck and the media has a very crucial role to play in transforming the Agriculture sector.
“We have seen the enormous task ahead and Solidaridad alone cannot do it.
“So,we need every person on board from the CSOs, the government, the media, the Private Sector and the likes for us to bring the change that really matters in the agricultural sector in Nigeria,” Ogallah ssid.
