NISS Participants Urged To Promote Self-suffiency In Food Production
The Coordinator of Nigeria Institute of Soil Science (NISS), South East Zonal Office, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Prof. Charles Livinus Anija (C.L.A) Asadu, has called on the participants in the NISS programmes of activities in the Zone to evolve ideas that could make the Zone and the nation self-sufficient in food production.
He also enjoined them to undertake studies into the examples of other nations which a few years ago, were in Nigeria’s present socio-economic predicament, but have through their ingenuity and commitment, transformed their economies from the state of under-development to that of relative buoyancy and prosperity.
Prof. Asadu gave the charge at Nsukka today, while declaring open a one day training in the capacity building on Climate-Smart Agriculture for extension agents, farmers and stakeholders in Agriculture in the South East Zone, Nigeria. 
This, Prof. Asadu said, could also be done through a conscious development of food technology in the zone and by extension, the country.
The Coordinator reminded the participants that the Institute is doing what it can to ensure that our soil resources has good crop yields and disease-free.
He said, if we can’t manage our soil, then there is a problem, because Nigeria has the resources to produce enough food, adding that NISS sponsoring the training, is for you farmers, saying: “you are selected by your State Agricultural Development Programme Managers(P.M)”.
He advised them thus: “When you go back, don’t hide information, because some times, a farmer might be having a problem, while the other farmer might have the solution to the problem”.
Papers presented include Introduction to Climate-Smart Agriculture (Module 1) by Prof. C.L.A. Asadu, Why Climate-Smart Agriculture, forestery, fisheries and landscape management (module 2) by Dr. Ben Unagwu, Water, Soils and their management(module 3) by Dr. Sunday Obalum,
Genetic Resources and sustainable crop production intensification(SCPI): Prerequisite for Climate-Smart Agriculture by Prof. Simon Eze and Development Sustainable and inclusive food value chains for Climate-Smart Agriculture by Dr. Vincent Azuka.
Others include Climate-Smart Livestock by Dr. Chukwuemeka Onyekachi Nwaigwe, Effects of flood on Soil and Environment by Dr. Chika Jidere and Mitigation of Climate Change: Effects for Suatainable Agricultural Production by Prof. Pius Ikechukwu Ezeaku.
The five States of the South East, Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo were in attendance which include five farmers, two extension agents and one Programme Manager each from the States of the zone, including six Resource Persons and three journalists.
Also, the Programme Managers of Enugu, Ebonyi, Anambra and Abia States, Dr. Ogbonna Onyeisi (mni), Okike Onwuasoanya, represented by Odo, Gabriel, Jude Nwankwo, represented by Izuako, Alex and Hon. Chief Israel Amanze, represented by Nnenna Udunma respectively were in attendance.
Dr.Onyeisi speaking on behalf of South East ADP Programme Managers appreciated the NISS and paper presenters. He urged the participants to step down the lessons learned from the training to their various states, local governments, and agricultural clusters.
This post has already been read at least757 times!
