|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
Participants at the training for agric extension officers
By Akanji Alowolodu, Bauchi
A total of 40 Extension Agents in Bauchi State have been trained on handling extension tools, methodologies and Agricultural value chains as part of efforts to enhance service delivery in food production and technical support for farmers especially the peasants.
The training was conducted by officials of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in collaboration with the Bauchi state Agricultural Development Programme (BSADP) in the second batch of the program.
The disclosure was made by Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Muhammad Abubakar on Wednesday at the opening ceremony of the training of the extension workers in the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, held at the headquarters of the Bauchi state Agricultural Development project in Bauchi.
The Minister who was represented by the State Director of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mr Daniel Abarshi Ilelah, said that over the years, the fortunes of agricultural extension system has declined majorly due to decreased funding, policy changes, reduced manpower and lack of interest of young people in agricultural entrepreneurship.
He pointed out that the situation has affected food production, exposing the country to the dangers of unemployment, youth restiveness and economic instability.
According to him, at the inception of the Muhammadu Buhari led APC administration, a special Committee on the revitalization of Agricultural Extension Service in Nigeria was constituted to amongst others, recommend appropriate institutional structures, arrangements and capacity building for the delivery of effective and efficient pluralistic agricultural extension and advisory services in Nigeria, using global acceptable approaches and platforms.
The Minister said that, “Let me assure you that the federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development through it’s technical department, the federal department of Agricultural Extension has selected resource persons who will bring their expertise and experience to bear in this training”.
He further said that, “the training will empower you with knowledge that will enhance service delivery to farmers both in terms of production practices and equipment for technical support”.
Also Speaking, the Director, Federal Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Engineer Frank Satumari Kudla, said that the national agricultural extension system in Nigeria was a great turning point because the Programme is one of the first recommendation of a special Committee established by the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to assist the ministry, among other responsibilities to develop a workable framework and actionable Programme for the training of 75,000 extension workers in collaboration with States ADPs.
The Director who was represented by a senior Agricultural officer in the ministry Mr Tambul Halilu Buba, said that the training was designed to empower participants with skills in the use of extension delivery methodologies and tools, best global practices in the agricultural value chains as well as provide all the necessary logistics and reference manuals in tune with emerging technologies, innovations and practices in the sub-sector.
Earlier in his welcome address, theBSADP Project Manager, Jafar ilelah, said that after the training, the extension agents will be given samples of insecticides and sprayers, so that when they return to their various communities, they can test how effective the chemicals are and also train other farmers on how to use agricultural inputs on their farms.
He commended the federal government through the federal ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, for the initiative of training extension agents in the country, saying that the move will provide the extension agents with tools that would help them give more practical services to farmers thereby increasing efficiency and income.
