By Our Correspondent
The AGRHYMET, a specialised institute of the Permanent Inter-State Committee for Drought Control in the Sahel has collabotrated with Nigeria’s Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security over improvement on SARRA- H&O model of agriculture in the West Africa Sub-Region.
SARRA- H&O model is a fairly dynamic agronomic model which is currently at the forefront of production estimation models. It was developed jointly by CIRAD and AGRHYMET Centre for several decades.
The model is being developed to take into account other crops that are important for the region, such as rain-fed rice, cowpea, groundnut and tubers.
Consequently, the AGRHYMET, a regional centre based in Niamey, Niger Republic, and Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Agriculture organized a 5-day workshop for experts from English speaking from the sub-region over improvement on the SARRA- H&O model of agriculture.
In his address during the opening ceremony of the workshop held at the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, AGRHYMET Representative in the country, Marshall Traore, said the train9ng was the fourth annual capacity building programme strategically organised to improve countries’ of the new model Agricultural practices campaign.
He said, ” This workshop brings together experts fromcountries Gambia, Liberia, Nigeria and Sierra Leone, which are English speaking countries.
”As you know, Sahelian countries have been facing accelerated degradation of the environment and natural resources since 1973 under the cumulative effects of recurrent drought desertification and human activities.
” This situation has led to a considerable reduction in productive potential, thus exposing the population to a precarious food production.
” As you know, national agricultural products are micro-economic, social and existential aggregates for countries and regions, for stability and food safety monitoring.
” This information allows our regional and national decision- makers to guide policies and strategises for self-sufficiency and food sovereignty.
”This is why it is very important for our national actors in charge of producing food and nutrition security information to have tools to enable them to achieve these objectives.” He thanked the partners such as CILSS (NPFS), USAID through PRASSARfor their support.
Also speaking during the ceremony, Mr. Amu Anthony, representing the Department of National Programme on Food Security, highlighted various efforts and strategic initiative of the current government in Nigeria stating that the government aims at ensuring national food security.
The Director General and Chief Executive Officer Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMET), Professor Charles Anosike who was represented by Dr. James Adamu, emphasized the importance of the workshop.
Anosike urged participants to take advantage of the skills thats will be provided during the training to improve food security in their various countries and agencies.