Abia State Deputy Governor, Engineer Ikechukwu Emetu has reiterated the willingness of Governor Alex Otti’s administration towards improving the status of seed yam in the country for sustainable food production.
To this end, he has tasked stakeholders in agricultural commodities to contribute to the food sufficiency in the State and Nigeria.
The Deputy Governor spoke a two-day workshop on management of yam vines in Aeroponics/Hydroponics system at Nwabudo Agro Input Farm, Ntigha in Isiala Ngwa North L.G.A of Abia State.
According to him, to increase and achieve food security and wealth creation, there is the urgent need to critically examine factors militating against quality production and export of the State’s major agricultural commodities like yam.
He noted that Nigeria as a leading producer of yam globally is being affected by poor qualify seed yam and insufficient availability to meet demand.
Emetu therefore urged the participants to take the workshop seriously so that they can write their name as one of those that contributed to the food sufficiency in the country.
Also speaking, the State Director Federal Ministry of Agriculture And Rural Development, Mr. Aloysius Mba said the introduction of hydroponics and aeroponics system of yam seed multiplication is borne out of the desire to solve the problem of shortage and non availability of quality yam seedlings to meet up with farm demands.
Earlier, the Chief Executive Officer of Nwabudo Agro Seeds and Input Company Ltd, Sir. Christopher Nwanevu said that the workshop on the management of yam vines in Aeroponics/ Hydroponics System for seed production was to enhance the production of high quality seed to maximize agricultural productivity.
