… distribute improved rice varieties
By Onwa Ekor
For improved productivity, a total of 500 farmers including people living with disabilities, have been trained on modern farming techniques.
The participants who were drawn from Obanliku and Bekwarra local government areas of Cross River went through a-one-day hands-on-training, on mainstreaming climate-smart and sustainable practices in rice and aquaculture production.
Organised by the Obanliku Rice Dealers’ Multipurpose Cooperative Society Limited in collaboration with TAGDEV 2.0 Programme and implemented in Nigeria by the University of Port Harcourt, with support from the Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture, RUFORUM, and the Mastercard Foundation, the event were separately held in the two local government areas.
Declaring the workshop open in Sankwala, the Obanliku local government Headquarters, the Council Chairman, Chief Sunny Ayang, applauded the organizers for affording the participants avenues to be equipped with adequate skills and knowledge in modern methods of utilizing climate-smart agriculture and sustainable practices in rice production.
Ayang, represented by his Vice, Madam Glory Awowoh, remarked that with the prospective benefits of increased yield through the climate-smart rice farming, there will be improved livelihoods, enhanced food security as well as sustainable development for both the rural and urban dwellers in the area.
He charged participants to maximise the opportunity in the interest of their personal and communal gains.
In a keynote address, the Program Coordinator, Prof Ibisime Etela, represented by the Associate Program Officer, Prof Julius Ingweye, reaffirmed the commitment of stakeholders in advancing sustainable agriculture, food security and inclusive capacity development through the initiative.
Etela described the TAGDEV 2.0 initiative as an organisation that is fully aligned with best agricultural practices aimed at advancing the rice value chain as well as its recorded feats in offering scholarship opportunities for students pursuing both undergraduates and postgraduate studies in any area of agriculture tenable in the University of Port Harcourt.
He stressed the need for the selected farmers to embrace the new practices, maintaining that “science is evolving in all sectors of human endeavours while the future holds fortunes for persons who are prepared to take advantage of every available positive opportunity.”
Paramount Ruler of Obanliku, Uchua Amos Uyimulam Item, who spoke through the Clan Head of Busangfong and Uchua Isu, Gabriel Adabah, described the programme as timely especially in the wake of farming activities.
He also admonished farmers to remain hardworking in order to benefit from the programme.
Others who spoke including Chief Akeshire Simon, Miss Mary Ashibekong, and a representative of People living with disabilities, Thomas Abah, remarked that the training offered them modern information that will boost their farming with greater expectations for harvests and economic empowerment.
They further pledged to apply the new knowledge so acquired, with unwavering commitment.
At Bekwarra local government area, the Resource persons enjoined farmers to be conversant with emerging technologies in farming, pointing out that the initiative was prompted by the continuous sufferings of rural farmers who lack the enlightenment on emerging trends, a situation which leads to less profits in their years-long farming.
Highpoint of the practical and participatory training workshop was the distribution of high-quality rice seeds from two improved lowland rice varieties, UPIA-2 and UPIA-3, developed by scientists from the University of Port Harcourt, to the elated participants.
