By Asmau Ahmad
The National Space Research Development Agency (NASRDA), is training staff of Agro Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL), on implementation of the 700 million dollars World Bank environmental project.
ACReSAL is a World Bank intervention to tackle environmental degradation, desertification and other issues, in the 19 northern states of Nigeria, to boost agriculture and improve the standard of living of the people.
Dr Halilu Shaba, NASRDA Director General (D-G), said on Tuesday in Jos, that the one-week training was to build participants’ capacities on the use of technology, to tackle climate change challenges.
Shaba said that the training was also to equip participants with the knowledge of Geographic Information System (GIS), and remote sensing technology, to ensure sustainable landscape management.
The D-G stated that the country needed people who would use GIS and remote sensing, to generate the necessary data or information for the communities to boost agriculture and enhance livelihoods.
“The training is very important because we live in a knowledge-based economy, and that we cannot do anything without data.
“And one of the things that has been a big problem to the whole of Africa, and Nigeria in particular, is lack of necessary data.
“Before you venture into agriculture, you want to know the kind of crops that are grown, such data help to grow the suitability, and it will reduce crop failures.
“So, this information is not just for decision making, it is also to assist farmers and governments in making vital decisions.”
Mr Adbulhameed Umar, ACReSAL National Project Coordinator, said lands of 19 northern states and the FCT, required urgent intervention to address issues of desertification, drought and degradation.
Umar said land degradation in states such as Plateau, where there were a lot of mining activities, had left so many mining pits, which needed to be addressed.
“So essentially, this intervention is to address issues surrounding environmental challenges and human livelihoods.
“It is for the improvement and enhancements of lives of our fellow citizens in the northern part of Nigeria.
“You all agree with me that the world is now science and technology driven. NASRDA is known to have the most skilled set of space technology experts.
“And we are here in Jos, the capital of Plateau, where the National Centre for Remote Sensing, a centre of excellence, is located. And that is why we invited all our specialists to be here for the training.
“We are here to learn what GIS and geoscience have delivered, to get accurate understanding for the implementation of the project at the level of science and technology,” Umar said.
Dr Joy Agene, ACReSAL Task Team Leader, in her remarks, said that the World Bank believed that technology had come to stay, and so there was urgent need to expose the people to the implementation strategies of ACReSAL.
Agene note that technology had come to replace the obsolete way of doing things such as using papers and going to the field to gather data.
“Technology will help us to discharge our activities for efficiency, speed, and even more impact in carrying out our activities,” she stated.
Dr Keyinde Ogunmola, NCRS Assistant Director, said that the objective of the ACReSAL project was to use technology for the management of landscape, hence the need for the training.
