‘Greenhouse farming can generate employment for IDPs, address food shortage’

An official at the Product Development Department of the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), Mr Rufus Durodoye has said that  Greenhouse farming can create employment for Internally Displaced Persons (IDP’s) and refugees, and boost food security in Nigeria.

He said this while delivering an online presentation on Journalist go Organic, a Pan African movement, in Abuja

According to him, agriculture has the potential to foster the economic and social integration of migrants, assylum seekers and refugees, and also enhance the agriculture value chain.

In developed countries, sectors such as agriculture, tourism and care services have become largely dependent on migrants.

“Many refugees originate from rural areas and hold valuable agricultural skills as crop producers, livestock keepers or fishermen. Given the right support and assets, they have the potential to not only feed themselves and their families but enter lucrative markets and prosper.

They could also contribute to local economic development, benefiting other refugees and their host communities in the process.

According to him, the greenhouse mechanized farming approach  has the potential to transform the agricultural sector of rural Nigeria by achieving food security, increasing incomes and creating new employment opportunities that will  foster the economic and social integration of migrants, assylum seekers and refugees, and also strengthen the value chain.

Screenhouses are also found in Nigeria and some other African countries.  The are equally suitable for temperate regions where the weather is good and are conducive for plants growth.

Durodoye noted that it is  being referred to as screenhouse because the issue of weather has been overcome, screening out dust, insects, pests and unwanted humans and animals from entering the kit.

“Inside the Greenhouse,  we have equipment like heaters,  coolants, fans etc to regulate the temperature to the standard required for your plants.  This type of Greenhouse is mainly found in Europe,  Asia, America etc.

“The Greenhouse or Screenhouse comes in various sizes ranging from 5m x 5m, 5m x 10m, 24m x 24m, 24m x 48m depending on your strength.  For a Screenhouse of 24m x 48m, you are sure of 600 stands of the plants you want to go into, so non-availability of land is not an excuse.  You can do it at your backyard, or even on your balcony.

“One thing common to themis that both of them have the same structure, requiring small land areas, and with good management of limited resources, one can harvest huge  amounts of produce, which alleviates hunger, and is a good source of family income,” he added.

He added that tomato, harbanero peppers, golden sun, green pepper,  cucumber,  vegetables  as well as yams are among food crops that thrive well in a greenhouse farm.