From Aniekan Aniekan, Calabar
Dr. Emmanuel Eremi, an expert in Agriculture Extension and Rural Sociology has advised small holder farmers to move away from farming practices that damage the soil.
Dr. Eremi said farmers should adopt practices like crop rotation as it has immense benefits for soil health and fosters organic farming.
He disclosed this in Calabar during a One Day Capacity training for small holder farmers in Cross River State under the AUDA NEPAD Project.
“As small holder farmers, you have to move beyond farming systems that destroy the health of the soil.
“Planting one particular crop permanently on a piece of land is not beneficial to the health of the soil.
“Crop rotation is the best way to go as it has immense benefits to soil health, is environmentally friendly and protects the health of the soil.
“Crop rotation also fosters organic farming and this helps ensure sustainability in food production”, he said.
Declaring the training open, Prince Michael Abuo, State Coordinator and Special Adviser on AUDA-NEPAD, announced that the Cross River State government has provided 3.5 billion naira in counterpart funding.
He added that the project aims to empower at least 3,000 small holder farmers in crop and livestock farming across the three senatorial districts of the state.
Hon. Jabiru Abdullahi, National Coordinator and CEO of AUDA-NEPAD, described the project as a significant opportunity for farmers.