In spite of the current reduction in farming activities across the states especially the northern region due to farmers / herders clash , the Chairman, Senate Committee on Information and Media, Senator Sabi Abdullahi has expressed hope that Nigeria can still overcome shortage in food supplies .
Senator Sabi (Niger North) said the challenges can be countered through enhanced food security policy of the government meant to develop farming technology and bumper production to tackle areas of lack. Abdullahi stated this at the end of the second phase of a two-day training for Senate Press Corps and select staff of the Upper Chamber in Abuja yesterday.
The training was organised in collaboration with the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
He said the herdsmen/farmers crisis in some parts of the country had resulted in making it difficult for farmers to cultivate the land.
His words “It is a very challenging time for us as a country.
“The one hope I have is that we are always able to overcome our challenges. We will work collectively to take this country out of the difficulty we found ourselves.
“We will ensure that we change from a rudimentary production system through a much more productive system and even to a more advanced system.”
“Looking at agriculture as a means of taking people out of poverty and enhancing their livelihood is something that is compulsory,”
The lawmaker noted that the objective of the training was to enhance the reportorial skills of the National Assembly media crew in handling specialised areas such as agriculture and food security toward depeening democracy.
“Our regrouping is an indication of the importance the Senate attaches to the Press Corps. This 8th Senate has brought a lot of changes, in all of this, the Senate Press Corps has been standing with us.
He thereafter commended the institute for its “Feed the Future” programme, saying it was a laudable project.
In his remarks, Head of the Institute Dr George Mavrotas said “I cannot imagine this country to become more aware of the important issues surrounding the Nigeria agricultural sector without the active involvement of journalists of this country and in particular the Senate media.”
He said the training was a five-year programme aimed at equipping journalists covering the National Assembly with skills on drafting communication strategy.
One of the participants, Mr Huram Lokodi said the training had exposed him “to how as journalists, we can better communicate policies of government especially agriculture policies to the public.
“This is very timely because in Nigeria, issues of food security are necessary, as journalists, we should be able to let people who are into agriculture know what the policies are and how best to achieve food security.
“It has been very useful,” he said.