By Igwe Eze Chikodiri
In a concerted effort to boost food production, Izu Blessed Agricultural Training and Investment Limited, a privately-owned company based in Abia state, on January 31, 2024, organized a training session on "Pest and Disease Control for Increased Cassava Production." The event, held at the Kolping Society of Nigeria, Umuahia, marked a crucial step in the company's mission to transfer vital agricultural knowledge and skills to farmers in the region.
Izu Blessed Agricultural Training and Investment Limited aims to make a significant impact by collaborating with governments, universities, and other organizations, locally and internationally. The CEO, Mr Izuchukwu E. Nwankpa, highlighted the importance of such partnerships during the training, commending the State Governor, Dr Alex Otti, and the Honourable Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Professor Monica Ironkwe, for their commitment to agricultural practices, to boost food security and job creation.
In her speech, the Honourable Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Professor Monica Ironkwe, emphasized that for Nigeria to survive its current economic challenges, it has to intentionally harness its vast arable lands for agricultural purposes. She appreciated Izu Blessed Agricultural Training and Investment Limited for identifying genuine farmers in the state for the training. According to her, while many efforts of governments in boosting food production have not yielded the desired results of food sufficiency in Nigeria, and Abia State, in particular, is because many who claim to be farmers produce nothing.
They collect all the benefits accruable to farmers, yet they own no single farm, produce no single crop, and rear no animal, simply because they are “Political Farmers.”
She lamented that the cause of many avoidable deaths we witness in Nigeria today is traceable to hunger. “When people suffer sustained hunger, their immune system weakens, and they become vulnerable to diseases and ultimately death. We must get rid of ‘political farmers’ and empower the real farmers to harness our vast arable lands to achieve food sufficiency,” she opined. She revealed also that Abia State is currently profiling all the real farmers in the State to ensure the right thing is done this time around.
The Commissioner advocated for making agriculture compulsory in tertiary institutions, citing Clifford University in Abia State as a positive example. She believes that such measures are essential for achieving food sufficiency and addressing the economic challenges faced by the country.
Representatives from ADP, FADAMA, and the National Root Crops Research Institute, Umudike, Mr. Udensi Johnson, MrMrsrace Orji Okpe, and Dr Innocent Onyekwere respectively, expressed their institutions’ readiness to provide technical support to farmers.
They expressed optimism that collective efforts, mirroring Izu Blessed's initiatives, could lead Nigeria to overcome its food insecurity challenges.
The second session of the training was impactful. The first lecture was delivered by Dr. Mrs Beatrice Onunka, where she covered the introduction to cassava, its origin, and its significance in Nigeria as the world's leading producer.
According to her, the National Root Crops Research Institute (NRCRI), Umudike, has a mandate for genetic improvement, production, processing, and marketing of cassava.
The institute has developed over 46 improved cassava varieties, including yellow root varieties rich in β-carotene to meet vitamin A requirements. She advised farmers to take advantage of this information to enhance their farming activities.
The objectives of the training included discussing pests and diseases affecting cassava, their causes, symptoms, damage, and control options.
She defined pests as organisms causing economic damage to cultivated plants and emphasized the importance of pest and disease control to prevent crop loss, income loss, and other negative impacts. Basic principles of effective pest control were highlighted, such as applying control only when necessary and causing as little harm as possible to non-pest organisms.
The lecture then proceeded to provide information about specific pests of cassava, such as the Cassava Mealy Bug, Ariegated Grasshopper, Termites, Rodents, Sheep, Goats, and Cattle, along with their symptoms and management options. It also focused on cassava diseases, including Cassava Mosaic Disease (CMD), Cassava Bacterial Blight (CBB), Leaf Spots, and ways to manage and control them. In summary, the lecture covered a comprehensive overview of cassava production, the pests and diseases affecting it, and effective control measures to ensure farmers are equipped with the requisite knowledge to enable them to increase cassava production in Abia State.
In furtherance of the training, a practical session was taken by Mr. Ani Onwukwe. It included a brief lecture, recoupling, and a field demonstration on the use of manual knapsack sprays.
The training provided information on various types of sprayers based on the volume of liquid handled, including high-volume, low-volume, and ultra-low-volume sprayers.
It also discussed different types of hand-held sprayers, knapsack sprayers (made of stainless steel and brass), stirrup sprayers, rocker sprayers, hand compression sprayers, pedal-operated pumps, tractor-mounted field/boom sprayers, aerial dusting sprayers, and motorized knapsack sprayers.
Part 1 of the training explained what a sprayer is and defined a knapsack sprayer. Part 2 focused on the salient features of knapsack sprayers and the basic components of a sprayer, including the pump, tank, agitator, air chamber, pressure gauge, pressure regulator, valves, cut-off valve, by-pass valve, relief valve, strainer/filter, nozzles, spray gun, spray boom, and overflow pipe. The practical section covered the dismantling and coupling of the sprayer components before the trainees. The precautionary measures before, during, and after spraying pesticides were discussed, emphasizing the importance of wearing protective gear, reading manufacturers' instructions, and properly cleaning equipment.
The session concluded with steps on how to use a manual knapsack sprayer, including filling it with water and agrochemicals, checking wind direction, and maintaining a steady step during spraying. It also listed do's and don'ts, highlighting important considerations for safe and effective pesticide application.
The 50 trainees were given a Certificate of Attendance and a Knapsack Sprayer free of charge, courtesy of Izu Blessed Agricultural Training and Investment Limited.
The programme culminated in the giving of an Appreciative Award to the Honourable Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Prof. Mrs. Monica Ironkwe.
To align with its broader vision of transforming the agricultural landscape in Nigeria, Izu Blessed Agricultural Training and Investment Limited, known for its commitment to transferring vital agricultural knowledge and skills, is set to extend its impact beyond Abia State to benefit farmers in other states within the South East region and eventually reach a nationwide scale.
Beyond cassava production, the company is gearing up to include training in various other areas of agriculture, including fish farming, organic crop production, snail production, apiculture (honey production), animal husbandry, and more. This comprehensive approach underscores Izu Blessed's commitment to equipping farmers with a diverse skill set, ensuring they can thrive in different facets of agriculture.
