The Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, has called on officers to engage in practical agriculture that will enable them enjoy profitable living in and out of service.
FRSC Corps Marshal, Boboye Oyeyemi, gave the advice during a sensitisation workshop for officers of the corps by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, on Tuesday in Abuja.
Mr Oyeyemi, who commended the agricultural efforts of the Federal Government, said that engaging in agriculture would guarantee effective planning for the future.
According to him, “we will key into the agricultural initiative of the government. This is a rare privilege that the Minister of Agriculture, Chief Audu Ogbeh, has given us.
“This is the essence of planning for tomorrow, and one thing that the government is doing is to allow us to plan through agriculture.
“The good thing is that this is what is allowed, and the government will encourage and link us up with the Bank of Agriculture, BOA, to access loans.
“Do not wait until you get a large farm, you can start small. I am a farmer already. If you plan your life well, you will have no reason being under stress tomorrow,’’ he advised.
Earlier, the minister assured the officers that the government would support and train any of them interested in going into agriculture.
Mr Ogbeh was represented on the occasion by the Director, Agribusiness, Processing and Marketing in the ministry, Muyiwa Azeez.
The minister said the support would be in form of provision of inputs, mechanisation equipment, markets and advisory role for the officers.
Senior Adviser to the minister on Special Projects and General Duties, Winifred Ochinyabo, said the inability to meet domestic food requirements and export were key challenges in the agriculture promotion policy document of the government.
Mrs Ochinyabo said that collective ability and efforts were needed to solve the issues, and ensure food security in the country.
“We must unlock the potentialities of feeding ourselves and transforming it into profitable venture. The FRSC is key toward actualising this mandate. We can all engage in agri-business,’’ she said.
The workshop is titled: `Food Security in Defence of National Security’, started on September13 with the Nigerian Air Force, Nigeria Prisons Service, NPS, and the Federal Fire Service personnel.
The programme will also be conducted for officers of the Nigerian Army, Nigeria Immigration Service, Nigeria Customs Service and other military and paramilitary organisations.
NAN
