NABDA – Promoting The Cultivation Of Yam With Hydroponics

Prof. Alex Akpa (Director General) has revealed that the National Biotechnology Development Agency (NABDA) is promoting the use of hydroponic technology in the cultivation of yam in Nigeria.

The hydroponic system is a method of cultivation that does not involve the use of soil.  It is a system that involves the use of a mineral nutrient solution in a solvent.

This system of farming has been found to produce 30% better than the use of soil for cultivation.

It makes your plant grow faster as they have the needed nutrient, unlike soil that may probably be deficient in some of the plant nutrients.

The Director-General made this known on Tuesday why delivering an open remark at a conference organized in partnership with the Open Forum for Agricultural Biotechnology (OFAB).

The key theme of this conference was “Technological Interventions in Mitigating the Impacts of COVID-19 on Nigeria Food Security”. This was hosted by various leaders of industries.

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Mr. Alex Akpa stated that the agency unfolded a program in the Course of the COVID-19 lockdown to distribute about 5million seedlings of yam to farmers, explaining that this was carried out using the hydroponic technology.

He also added that the agency also shared 1million yam seedlings for cultivation to farmers last year and this system of cultivation was also used.

In his speech, he noted that this system can massively increase the production of yam in the country with better quality. This system helps reduce drudgery and also improves the plant resistance to pest and disease.

Some of the experts present in the conference appeal to the Federal Government to help promote the use of this technology in food production as it will help the country to be food secured even in the face of this economic crisis amidst the novel coronavirus.

Biotechnology is a system that uses a living organism or system to make technology-enhanced products in other to solve problems.

The Director of the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA), the person of Dr. Yemi Akinbamijo, called on the Federal Government to enlarge its capacity for science in the country.

He described the country as the “emerging leader in biotechnology”. He also stated that the country will be “a litmus test for the success or failure of biotech policies in Africa”.

He emphasized that the country has what it takes when it comes to deploying technology and also all it would take for Nigeria to be self-sufficient when it comes to the aspect of food.

The country cannot risk having a weak NABDA and a weak biotechnology even in the face of this era of technology.

He further stated that COVID-19 is causing many to lose their jobs in the agricultural sector and all we can do to help is to empower them technologically in a way that one plus one is no longer two.

Dr. Abdularazaka Ibrahim who happens to be a Research Consultant at FARA stated that the World Bank statistics reveal that Africa’s agricultural production will reduce by about 2.7% this year as a result of the COVID-19.

He added that while Nigeria is emerging as the leader of Africa, it is lagging when it comes to global ranking with just 38 scientists per million people.

The use of Technology will help to cut down food shortages, enhance food storage capacity, increase and strengthen the food supply system, and many other advantages too numerous to mention.

He ended with calling on the Federal Government to properly review the country’s National Agricultural Investment Plan (NAIPS) for implementation considering COVID-19.

NABDA – Promoting The Cultivation Of Yam With Hydroponics

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Raphael Okhueleigbe

Raphael Osas Okhueleigbe is a Blogger, Content creator, Agricultural Economist, Resource manager, and the founder of greener health.

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