We will promote more modern mechanized farming ―Audu Ogbe

MINISTER for Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audi Ogbe has promised that the Federal Government will continue to provide more modern mechanized farming inputs to farmers in the country to boost food production just as he commissioned soil erosion control sites in two communities in Gombe State.

The Minister made the promise Tuesday while commissioning the erosion control sites in Kumo, Akko LGA and Kaltungo in Kaltungo LGA all in Gombe state assuring that the Federal Government will soon embark on a programme that will encourage youths to venture into farming using modern mechanized farming inputs such as machines for planting and harvesting as well as drying among many others.

He disclosed that the project is being executed by the Ecological Fund Office, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF) and is one of the Federal Government’s ecological intervention projects which contracts were approved by the Ecological Fund Office Tender Board in the year 2015.

According to the Minister, the projects are expected to check erosion and flooding challenges within the communities saying that, “Today’s project commissioning and handing over must be commended as it will offer the communities opportunities to take ownership of the projects in ensuring it’s security, maintenance and sustainability.”

• We’re raising millionaires through agric ―Kogi govt

“The communities should also prevent the mismanagement of the projects by not filling the drainage channels with debris that could lead to another flooding or erosion,” Audu Ogbe added.

Emirs of Kaltungo and that of Kumo who were at the project sites commended the Federal Government’s efforts in tackling the erosion menace in their respective areas and called for more of such interventions particularly in more serious erosion-prone sites.