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From Abel Leonard, Lafia
Nasarawa State farmers, especially women, youths, and persons with disabilities (PWDs), have been urged to adopt urban farming and hydroponic techniques to enhance vegetable production for both domestic and commercial use.
The Monitoring and Evaluation Manager of the Women Environmental Programme (WEP), Miss Damaris Uja, made the call during a training session with some farmers in Lafia, the Nasarawa State capital, on Friday.
It was gathered that Christian Aid supported the training, which attracted about 70 farmers, as part of efforts to promote climate-smart agricultural practices.
According to Miss Uja, “the initiative is aimed at helping small-scale farmers, particularly vulnerable groups like persons with disabilities, women, and youths, to tackle the challenges of climate change. “Hydroponic farming offers an effective way to grow nutritious crops such as tomatoes and peppers without the need for large expanses of land.” She urged the Nasarawa State Government to invest in training extension workers on hydroponic farming techniques, adding that such efforts would significantly boost food production in the state.
The hydroponic farming expert, Sylvanus Bature, explained that the technique is simple and allows farmers to cultivate crops in nutrient-rich solutions, making it ideal for urban areas.
In his remarks, the Head of Produce and Crop Protection at the Nasarawa State Ministry of Agriculture, Sadanu Muhammed, lauded WEP and Christian Aid for their efforts, stating, “the ministry is ready to collaborate with stakeholders to promote the adoption of hydroponic farming across the state.”
