By Merit Ibe
As part of efforts to achieve food security, the Abia State Government has emphasised its willingness to improve yam seedlings and other crops for sustainable food production.
The state deputy governor, Ikechukwu Emetu, made the remark recently at a two-day workshop on ‘Management of Yam Vines in Aeroponics/Hydroponics System, held at Ntigha in Isiala Ngwa North Local Government Area of the state.
Emetu reiterated the willingness of Governor Alex Otti-led administration towards improving the status of seed yam seedlings in the country for sustainable food production. He used the opportunity to task stakeholders in the agricultural commodity value chain to contribute to food sufficiency in the state and Nigeria.
According to him, to increase and achieve food security and wealth creation, there was an urgent need to critically examine factors militating against quality production and export of major agricultural commodities like yam, noting that Nigeria as one of the leading producers of yam globally was being affected by poor quality seed yam seeds and insufficient demand.
Emetu, therefore, urged the participants to take the workshop seriously in order to write their names as one of those that contributed to the food sufficiency in the country.
Also speaking, the Director of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture And Rural Development in the state, Mr. Aloysius Mba, said the introduction of hydroponics and aeroponics systems of yam seed multiplication was 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 the workshop on the Management of Yam Vines in Aeroponics/ Hydroponics Systems for seed production was to enhance the production of high-quality seed to maximise agricultural productivity.