The Genshakka Emmanuel Foundation has engaged farmers in Kanke local government area of Plateau State on new farming techniques to boost farming activities in the locality and state as a whole.
At a one day sensitization, tagged, Agricultural Sanitation Conference, 2025, the foundation brought stakeholders in agriculture together at the Legislative Chamber of Kanke Local Government Council in Kwall to create the awareness to enable them improve in their farming activities.
In a presentation, Engineer Habakkuk Satmak, an Agricultural expert, who spoke on “Rethinking Agriculture in Ngas land”, said he is not there to teach them how to farm, but to enlightened them on some new farming techniques to enable them tap the treasure of the land, as Agriculture is one of the biggest business in the whole world.
He tasked them on the need to incorporate the new farming techniques especially the use of machines to farm as using the manpower to farm manually cannot provide the needed yield.
Engr. Satmak also encouraged them on the need to use improved seedlings and fertilizer that fits the land and crops they plant. He said there are specific fertilizer for every crops and also specific insecticide for the plants.
He further explained to them the differences between the fertilizers that are commonly used, the advantages and when to apply them in their farms. He advocated for the establishment of soil lab in the Local Government, engaging and empowering those he called agric promoters to help the farmers.
The presenter said the climate change prediction for 2025 shows that there will be shortage of rainfall in some parts of Plateau which are Kanke and Langtang North LGA. He advised them to read and observe weather prediction to assist them all the time.
Also in another presentation, Mr. Shedrach Danladi spoke on Agroforestry as a sustainable farming practice: enhancing ecological interaction and synergies, where he explained that agroforestry is a farming system that trees, animals and other crops can be planted and kept in the same piece of land.
According to him that system of farming protects the farm from erosion as the root of the trees holds the soil strong and also increase yield of the land, adding that it also provides habitat to range of animals, improve soil health and create a more favourable microclimate.
Some participants at the event appealed to traditional rulers and lawmakers of the council to come up with a law that will protect farm crops from being destroyed by animals.
Earlier in a welcome remark, the Secretary of Kanke LGC. Hon. Semshak Gompil said the council appreciate the foundation for the awareness, believing that it will change the farming narrative in the area.
He urged the farmers to grab the opportunity and to also teach other people at home to make the local government food basket of the state.
The Director of Agriculture in Kanke local government council, Mr. Mulak Fyardung who display varieties of crops he planted within the locality and harvested a good yield, encouraged the farmers that every kind of crop can grow in Kanke.
He said he has gone round most of the communities and Kanke land is blessed to produce variety of food crops, encouraging them that he is available anytime they need assistant to grow any kind of crops.
Chairman Board of Trustees of Genshakka Emmanuel Foundation, Rev. Father Kefas Goqwim who is a passionate farmer, said if all of them can tab from the rich potential within some of the stream and hills in their locality, they will discover that they are lying on rich resources.
He also suggested the practice of green house and livestock farming as well as stiffer punishment for anyone caught stealing in people’s farm or animals caught destroying farm crops.
There were good will messages from the District Head of Amper, Nde Kupshak Goma who spoke on behalf of the Traditional Council, All Farmers Association, National Council of Women Society, Plateau State Youth Council, among others.
The event had in attendance, the Council Deputy Chairman, Secretary, Traditional rulers, religious leaders, farmers Association, Women and Youth groups as well as People Living with Disability