By Chidi Nkwopara
OWERRI—Nigerian farmers have been urged to embrace modern technologies, which is the safest means of ensuring food security in present day world.

Imo State governor, Chief Ikedi Ohakim, made the passionate appeal during a workshop organized in Owerri by the National Research Extension Farmers Input Linkage System, NREFLS, in collaboration with the state Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources.

Vanguard gathered that the workshop, which attracted participants from the South-South and South East geo-political zones of the country, was aimed at linking the stakeholders in agricultural production, research, extension, farmers and input agencies in the two agro-ecological zones to address the problem of low agricultural productivity in Nigeria.

Chief Ohakim, who was represented by the Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Chief Longers Anyanwu, challenged the participants to make agriculture very attractive to the youths through the provision of qualitative inputs and reduction in the cost of production through the usage of modern agronomic packages.

The governor noted that youth participation in agriculture was one sure way of ensuring food security and reasonable pricing of the farmers’ produce in the markets.

He equally charged the participants to come up with recommendations that would encourage youth participation in the productive, environmentally friendly agricultural practice.