CurrentReport Blog The Executive Secretary of the Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria (ARCN), Professor Garba Hamidu Sharubutu, has called on Nigerian farmers to shift their focus from the exclusive cultivation of cash crops to more sustainable food crops, particularly Okro.
Professor Sharubutu made this statement during the opening ceremony of the Global Okro Roundtable II, an international conference held in Ibadan on Wednesday. The event was organized by the Advanced Training in Plant Breeding (ATPBR), Maharashtra, India, in collaboration with the National Horticultural Research Institute (NIHORT), Ibadan.
The conference attracted prominent figures, including Senator Yunus Akintunde, who represented the Senate, NIHORT Director Professor Mohammad Lawal Attanda, Senator Abubakar Kyari representing the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, and Dr. Surinder Tikko, Director of ATPBR, alongside other key stakeholders in the agricultural sector.
In his remarks, Professor Sharubutu emphasized the need for Nigerian farmers to diversify from the heavy reliance on cash crops such as cocoa and rubber, encouraging the cultivation of food crops like Okro to support the government’s economic diversification agenda.
He highlighted the importance of Okro, stating, “Okro is a versatile crop that can grow in any region, whether desert or tropical areas, and can be cultivated in multiple cycles throughout the year. Promoting Okro production will not only ensure food security but also help in sustaining agricultural practices in Nigeria.”
The ARCN Executive Secretary also underscored the government’s commitment to promoting staple foods for local consumption, adding that Okro is widely accepted across all regions of Nigeria.
Global Okro Initiative
Dr. Surinder Tikko of ATPBR expressed that the conference aims to make Okro a globally recognized crop. He noted that collaboration between India’s ATPBR and Nigeria’s NIHORT is crucial to achieving this goal. “We are working towards making Okro a global crop by discussing strategies and gathering insights from key stakeholders,” Tikko explained.
The Global Okro Roundtable II has been instrumental in driving conversations around Okro cultivation and its potential to become a staple food both locally and internationally. This initiative aligns with Nigeria’s goal of achieving food security and reducing the over-reliance on cash crops.
