Agriculture
THE Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, on Monday, began training of 30 extension workers across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the four-day train the trainers’ programme is aimed at educating rural farmers on modern and improved farming techniques.
NAN also reports that 30 extension workers are being trained across the 36 States of the federation, and the FCT.
The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Alhaji Muhammed Nanono said that training was one of several strategies planned by the ministry to halt the drift in the agricultural extension system.
”This is with the aim of pursuing the revitalization agenda of the Nigerian economy by the Federal Government,” he said.
Nanono said agricultural extension delivery is the mechanism that drives of all agricultural policies and research, without which all the intended goals in the agricultural ecosystem may not be realised.
According to him: “Over the years the fortunes of the agricultural extension system has declined majorly due to decreased funding, policy changes, reduced man-power and lack of interest of young people in agricultural entrepreneurship.
“This situation has affected food production thereby exposing the country to the danger of unemployment, youth restiveness, and economic instability.”
He said that the government would ensure that Nigerians have adequate food for her population and to augment foreign earning.
The Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Mr David Alagoa, commended the initiative of the Federal Government, in training the youths.
He urged the participants to take the training with seriousness to enable them to impact on the rural people.
In his address, the Programme Manager ADP, Mr Jackson Diegbegha, lauded the initiative to train 1,110 agriculture extension workers in the country.
He said it will serve as a necessary strategy to address the neglect of the agricultural extension service delivery in the country.
Diegbegha, said that the overall goal of the training is to turn around agricultural extension service delivery with the view to enhancing the productivity and livelihood of rural farmers.
One of the beneficiaries, Mr Timi Imomotimi, said the training will allow them to gain more insight on farming extension, and also to impact the knowledge gained to the rural farmers.
He commended the state and federal government, for the initiative to expand their knowledge on agricultural extension.
The minister was represented by the Bayelsa state Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Mr David Alagoa. (NAN)
– Mar. 8, 2021 @ 14:45 GMT |
Tags: Agriculture: Ministry Bayelsa Govt. train extension workers
