In what was an epoch making occasion and landmark achievement, the Hon. Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr Muhammad Mahmood Abubakar, on Monday 22nd November, 2021 inaugurated the ARCN Radio and Television studios at the Council’s headquarters in Abuja. Also inaugurated were the Museum and E-library; while extension teaching materials were distributed to 11 NARIs, FCAs and some secondary schools within the FCT by the Hon. Minister with the Executive Governor of Plateau State, His Excellency, Simon Bako Lalong in attendance. In his submission, the Hon. Minister acknowledged the fact that the official inauguration of the world class facilities comprising digital museum and documentation would facilitate referencing agricultural research information and knowledge. The e-library would aid research by providing greater access to recent advancement in agricultural science, while the television and radio stations will link millions of Nigerians to first hand agricultural information. The Hon. Minister directed that all adopted villages and outreach centres be activated in order to drive the Ministry towards strengthening extension system in the Country. Delivering his welcome address, the ES, Prof. Garba Hamidu Sharubutu mni disclosed that the establishment of the Communication centre is to improve food production and ensure reduction in cost of food across the country. Prof. Sharubutu who frowned at the rate of production and post-harvest losses faced by farmers across the country, attributed the challenge to lack of adequate information on how to prevent such occurrences. According to him, the availability of such communication facilities will aid farmers on how to guide against such challenges and boost production. The ES decried the difficulties farmers experienced in the past to have access to agricultural information that would keep them abreast of latest information and technologies to boost their production. The implications of the radio station, according to the ES is that, there will be more air time and question and answer sessions, where the Institutes would be able to bring solutions to the door steps of the farmers. With this development, according to Prof. Sharubutu, there would be improved productivity and reduction in price of food stuffs. In his remarks, the Special Guest of Honour, the Executive Governor of Plateau State, Simon Bako Lalong, described the commissioning as a historic event that fits into President Muhammadu Buhari’s vision to make agriculture the mainstay of the economy. Commissioning of this edifice, according to Gov Lalong, “is a revelation that life is coming to our farmers, and darkness will soon depart from our agricultural sector”. In his words, Gov. Lalong decried “our inability to give research proper attention and time, and induce our capacity to go into large scale farming and deploy modern technology, make many of our farmers to still lack access to improved seedlings and hold on to old farming practices”.

According to the Head, Protocol and Publicity, ARCN, Kayode I. Aiyedogbon, dignitaries who gave keynote addresses were Senators Abdullahi Adamu, Chairman Senate Committee on Agriculture and Abdullahi Sabi as well as Hon. Munir Babba Dan-agundi, Chairman House Committee on Agriculture, Colleges and Institutions.