The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has began the training of 1,110 extension workers across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Alhaji Muhammed Nanono, who disclosed this on Monday, said that training was one of several strategies planned by the ministry to halt the drift in the agricultural extension system.
Alhaji Nanono said the four-days train the trainers programme is aimed at educating rural farmers on modern and improved farming techniques.
“This is with the aim of pursuing the revitalization agenda of the Nigerian economy by the Federal Government,” he said.
The Minister who was represented by The Bayelsa State Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Mr David Alagoa, explained that the agricultural extension delivery is the mechanism which drives of all agricultural policies and research, without which all the intended goals in the agricultural ecosystem may not be realized.
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.
While commending the initiative of the Federal Government in training the youths, Mr. Alagoa urged the participants to take the training with seriousness to enable them 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.
Mr. Diegbegha noted that it would serve as a necessary strategy to address the neglect of the agricultural extension service delivery in the country.
He 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.
(NAN)
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