Gwagwalada: The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has initiated the development of an Agricultural Policy and Implementation Plan to steer interventions aimed at boosting food production in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). Mr. Umar Malamiyo, the acting Director of Planning, Research and Statistics at the FCT Agriculture and Rural Development Secretariat, revealed this at an event held in Gwagwalada. The primary objective of this initiative is to improve food security within the FCT.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Malamiyo, who was represented by Mr. Agu Igwe, Deputy Director of Public Private Partnership in the Secretariat, highlighted that the engagement would assist government officials and stakeholders in identifying essential areas that could enable farmers to cultivate major crops in substantial quantities. He emphasized that many farmers in the territory currently lack fundamental knowledge related to irrigation and the cultivation of specific food crops.
The policy, once developed, is expected to help the FCT achieve its goal of ensuring food security by adopting best agricultural practices in food production. Malamiyo expressed confidence that the policy document, which is anticipated to be completed in six months, would provide solutions to the challenges faced by the agricultural sector in the territory.
Malamiyo noted that the FCT Administration currently lacks a specific policy on agriculture to provide direction towards achieving food security for the territory’s residents. ‘Therefore, this exercise is geared toward developing a policy that will guide us on how best to support our farmers to boost agricultural productivity,’ he stated.
Prof. Oyinkan Tasie, one of the resource persons, mentioned that the policy document would address strategic areas in the FCT agriculture sector. Tasie added that the initiative would enhance farmers’ knowledge in adopting best agricultural practices. ‘We are working with the FCT Administration to develop an agriculture policy. This will be the first of its kind since the creation of the FCT. Through the policy, the Administration will be able to articulate its vision in the area of agriculture, and in the long run, address hunger and other challenges affecting the attainment of food security,’ Tasie explained.