Agricultural radio to debut in Abuja

The Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria (ARCN) has concluded arrangements to commence a test-run of agricultural radio and television in Abuja before the end of the month.

Prof. Garba Sharubutu, Executive Secretary, ARCN, disclosed this in Abuja, adding that the aim is to stream all the activities and research findings to farmers in rural areas. 

Sharubutu also explained: “The government set up the council with the purpose of improving indigenous crops and to propagate institutes’ results concerning agriculture and how genetically modified crops can get to the farmers.’’

He acknowledged Open Forum on Agricultural Biotechnology and other agencies for the tremendous works on genetically modified products, making them reach Nigerian farmers.
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He, therefore, argued that though genetic modification is capital intensive, both the government and corporate bodies need to be involved from the laboratory to the consumers to make the crops safe for animals, humans and the environment.

Also, Prof. Rabiu Adamu of the Institute of Agricultural Research, Zaria, said there were over 12 million crop farmers in the country, and they should be carried along to deploy modern agricultural biotechnologies for food security.

Adamu said: ‘’GM crops have come to stay in Nigeria.  So, it is the responsibility of both private and public sectors to key into the technological advances that would trigger the plant transformation to achieve specific needs and to increase the gross domestic product.
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