Sunday Trust magazine – Pyramid Trust
WRITTEN BY HALIMA MUSA, KANO
SATURDAY, 19 DECEMBER 2009 21:39
The need for media organisations to give free air time for information that are vital for the development of rural agriculture in the country has been stressed.
Speaking at an interactive forum organised for media men and other stakeholders in rural agriculture and development by Women Farmers Advancement Network (WOFAN) at Tahir’s Guest palace, the senior programme coordinator, Technical Centre for agriculture and rural cooperation (CTA), Dr Ibrahim Tiemogo, said the media had a vital role to play in promoting rural agriculture.
He explained that, as part of its social responsibilities, the media should harp on the need for government and all other stakeholders in agriculture to support the development of agriculture in the rural area, with special emphasis on access to useful information.
Tiemogo further revealed that the technical centre for agriculture and rural cooperation was established in 1983 under the Cotonou agreement between Africa, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) group of States and European Union, to basically develop and provide services that improve access to information for agricultural and rural development.
“Our mandate are to develop and provide services that improve access to information for agricultural and rural development, and to strengthen the capacity of ACP countries to produce, acquire, exchange and utilise information in this area ,” he said.
He added that “CTA’S programmes are designed to provide a wide range information products and services and enhance awareness of relevant information sources, promote the integrated use of appropriate communication channels and intensify contacts and information exchange.”
Earlier in her speech, the national coordinator of WOFAN, Hajiya Dr. Salamatu Garba said, relationship between the media and agriculture should be strengthened so that farmers could access important information that would boost food production and, by extension, reduce poverty in the country.
