Amnesty Co-ordinator Canvasses Sustainable Agric

The Coordinator of Presidential Amnesty Programme, Brig.-Gen Paul Boroh, said sustainable agriculture would increase biodiversity of Niger Delta.

Boroh stated this in an interview with newsmen in Kolokuma, Bayelsa.

He said sustainable agriculture also benefits the environment by maintaining soil quality, reducing soil degradation and erosion, saving water and its positive impacts on the environment.

“Sustainable agriculture is a type of agriculture that focuses on producing long-term crops and livestock while having minimal effects on the environment.

“This type of agriculture tries to find a good balance between the need for food production and the preservation of the ecological system within the environment”, he said

The Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta said there were several goals associated with sustainable agriculture.

They include conserving water, reducing the use of fertilizers and pesticides, and promoting biodiversity in crops grown and the ecosystem.

Boroh said it also focuses on maintaining economic stability of farms and helping farmers improve their techniques and quality of life.

“There are many farming strategies that are used that help make agriculture more sustainable.

“It also utilises water management systems, such as drip irrigation that wastes less water”, he said.

According to the coordinator, agriculture is important to the development of any nation, and Nigeria being no exception.

He said the reintegration of the ex-agitators was designed to generate new ideas on how to engage them in a more diverse and productive roles in agriculture and also offer secondary benefits.

“The introduction of training beneficaries under the programme in agriculture is necessary and vital to facilitate food and nutrition security.

“The agriculture sector is attracting attention from both the private and public sectors not only because of its potential to solve the problem of youth unemployment but because of the increasing need for food security.

“The challenge, therefore, is to make them aware of the opportunities and provide them with entrepreneurial attitudes, skills and resources they require to move into farming”, he said.

According to him, there is a huge number of bright, educated and ambitious young people who still do not find farming attractive.

He said development must include the youth and therefore his office encouraged its beneficiaries to embrace the agricultural sector.

“This effort seeks to change the negative perception the youth have of participation in agriculture, of farmers as uneducated, unskilled, physical labourers with extremely low economic return.

“Modern agriculture is more than tilling the soil and animals.

“The agriculture sector today offers career opportunities in research, environment, financial management, engineering and other technical areas for the youths to explore,” he said.