The Agriculture and Rural Development Secretariat of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has pledged to develop innovative strategies to boost agricultural efficiency and productivity in Abuja.
Secretary of the secretariat, Mr. Lawal Geidam, made the disclosure in Abuja after receiving briefings from various departments in the secretariat on their operations, achievements, and challenges.
Geidam said the secretariat would educate and equip residents, especially the youth, with the necessary knowledge and skills to operate agriculture as a viable business.
“By imparting this knowledge, we hope to empower individuals to engage in agriculture as entrepreneurs, fostering economic growth and creating employment opportunities in the process,” he said.
He emphasized the importance of synergy among the various departments of the secretariat to achieve the desired results.
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Geidam explained that the briefs from the different departments had enabled him to have a comprehensive understanding of their roles and functions.
This, he said, would ensure effective coordination and alignment with common goals in line with the agricultural development agenda of the President Bola Tinubu-led administration.
According to him, the activities of the departments are interconnected, and their collective efforts are crucial in enhancing food production.
Geidam added that the working synergy would also help in transforming the agricultural sector into a significant source of employment and wealth creation for the growing population.
The secretary pointed out that working in isolation would not lead to the desired outcomes, and stressed the need for collaboration and cooperation among the departments.
“The activities of the departments are interwoven,” he said. “All are geared towards not only boosting food production but making the sector a viable source of job and wealth creation for our teeming population.
“We cannot achieve this in isolation; all the departments must work in synergy to achieve this objective.”
While expressing satisfaction with the progress recorded by the various departments so far, Geidam assured that the challenges were surmountable.
“All we need from you as civil servants is sincerity and diligence in doing your jobs,” he said.
He equally said that he would visit all the agricultural project sites in the FCT to assess the current state of the projects and identify areas for improvement.