FCTA begins work on blueprint to curb food insecurity

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has commenced the development of a comprehensive agricultural policy and implementation plan aimed at tackling food insecurity across the six area councils of the territory.

Speaking at a stakeholders’ engagement session in Gwagwalada on Wednesday, the Acting Director of Planning, Research and Statistics at the FCT Agriculture and Rural Development Secretariat, Umar Malamiyo, said the initiative is designed to pinpoint key areas that would enable farmers to grow a wide range of crops in large quantities.

Malamiyo, represented by Agu Igwe, Deputy Director in charge of Public-Private Partnership in the same department, noted that many farmers in the territory still lack fundamental knowledge in irrigation techniques and crop cultivation. He added that the proposed policy, the first of its kind since the creation of the FCTA, would be completed within six months and provide actionable solutions to challenges affecting the sector.

“The event which started in Gwagwalada Area Council is the beginning of developing a policy on agriculture. Since the inception of FCTA, there has never been a specific policy to achieve our aims in ensuring food security in the practice of agriculture,” Malamiyo said. “This exercise will bring about a policy direction in line with the major objective of food security, which will boost food production.”

The lead speaker at the event, Professor Oyinkan Tasie, emphasised that the policy document would capture strategic areas within the FCT’s agricultural sector and help broaden farmers’ understanding of best agricultural practices.

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“We are working with the FCT Administration to develop an agriculture policy, which is the first of its kind since the creation of FCT. Through this, the FCT will be able to articulate its vision in the area of agriculture. It will address hunger and food security,” she said.

Also speaking, Kayode Sani, Agricultural Officer for FCT Agro-Climate Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes, stressed the urgency of the initiative, citing the increasing population in the nation’s capital. He maintained that serious measures must be taken to enhance food security in response to growing demand.

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