By: Mr Edwin Emeka reports from Abuja.
As the proposed August 1st nationwide protest draws nearer, the Executive Secretary of the Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria, Professor Garba Sharubutu has appealed to Nigerians to exercise patience with the Federal Government as everything is been done to overcome the current food challenges facing the nation.
In a chat with newsmen in his office, Sharubutu said, Nigerians will soon start reaping the benefits of the various reforms introduced by the Federal Government, adding that the ARCN has been working tirelessly to overcome the food crisis in the country.
He further added that the ARCN has developed many varieties of crops to ensure self-sufficiency in production as it has also released beans and maize varieties that are resistant to insect pests to farmers.”
The council has also developed models to help in food storage as one of the research institutes under it’s supervision – the National Stored Products Research Institute in Ilorin has developed models for the storage of yam, cassava, and grains.
He further disclosed that the council has been able to release crop varieties that are meant to be flood resistant, quick maturing, quick yielding and pest resistant in order to boost the nutritional needs of the nation.
Noting that these quick maturing crops are rice, yam, cassava, wheat, guinea corn, millet.
These crops ranges from grains, tree crops, livestocks, fisheries, storages, mechanisation and extension services.
Already all parameters are pointing towards a bumper harvest this year with good rains and effort made by the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security in the provision of inputs.”
“The distribution of fertiliser pesticides and herbicides have started in earnest”
He therefore called on the organisers of the protest to suspend the plan in the overall interest of the nation so that Mr. President can drive home his reforms in the agricultural sector.
