Six major socio-economic studies conducted on sorghum, pearl millet, and groundnut, to assess the impacts of the technologies disseminated in the agriculture sector for the past 15 years shows that Nigeria needs to sensitize its farmers on the proper ways of using technology and innovation.
The study also shows that cultivation of pearl millet and sorghum are in sharp decline in Nigeria.
Debriefing the ministry and other stakeholders of the outcome of the Socio-economic Surveys conducted on the three major crops, pearl millet, sorghum and groundnut in Nigeria,’’ the Country Representative, International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), Hakeem Ajeigbe, said the survey was complemented by a study to analyse the role and contribution of technology in the agricultural chains.
He expressed hope that the outcome of the survey would help the ministry in future policy decisions.
On his part, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Sabo Nanono, outlined the various setbacks along the production chain and advised that the issue be addressed through education and massive orientation programmes.
He called on women and youth to be aggressive and proactive in the activities of farming and its business.
ICRISAT and its partners are organizations that empower the poor to overcome poverty, hunger and degraded environment, through better agricultural practices.
(Editor: Ifeanyi Mark)
