Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina
By Sheriff Balogun
Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina, has disclosed that climatic change has been fingered as a threat posed to global food security and human existence in the world.
He made the disclosure at the 16th Triennial Symposium of International Society for Tropical Root Crops (ISTRC), tagged: “The Roots (and Tubers) of Development and climate change”, in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.
He said climate change was going to have a significant impact on the development of tropical root crops in the African, Caribbean and Pacific regions in the years ahead, likely to be both negative and positive.
He said about 30 countries were ably represented at the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta where international agricultural business personnel were gathered at the symposium to generate an effective tropical root crops production in the world.
The President, Manufacturer’s Association of Nigeria (MAN), Chief Kola Jamodu, in his welcome address, said the symposium would provide unique platform for interaction among the agricultural businessmen.
Speaking further, he said the symposium was blessed with about 200 scientists from over 30 countries willing to share experiences, build collaborations and develop strategies to contribute to sustainable root and tuber development, saying the agricultural and industrial sectors of the economy were key to the Transformation Agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan.
Vice Chancellor of Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Professor Olusola Oyewole, in his welcome address said the major issue of climate change will be rainfall variability, seasonality and rise in sea level.
In his goodwill message, Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, who was represented by his deputy, Prince Segun Adesegun, emphasised the importance of root crops, giving the merits of cassava as a root crop.
“In Ogun now, our agriculture has been upgraded to mechanised farming. In Ogun today, our government has invested so much in mechanised farming. Ogun State is the largest producer of cassava and we hope to support the production of tropical root crops,” Adesegun said.