Agric Minister reveals FG to train 30,000 workers in revamp of extension services across Nigeria

The Federal Government, on Monday announced that it had trained over 30,000 workers as part of efforts to reinvigorate extension services and encourage agricultural productivity in the country.

Sabo Nanono, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development stated this at the National Wheat Farmers Field Day at Jakarade plantation in Danbatta Local Government Area of Kano state.

Nanono said the federal government planned to train 70,000 workers, adding that 30,000 of them had completed their training designed to expose them to modern farming techniques, fertiliser and chemical application.

He said the measure was imperative towards equipping farmers with modern farming techniques, crop processing and entrepreneurial skills, to add value to agricultural produce.

The minister said the Federal Government had initiated sound extension programmes, to transform agriculture and achieve food security, and urged state governments to engage them to enhance farmer support services at the grassroots.

According to him, the programme was focused on encouraging wheat production and processing, to reduce importation of the commodity into the country.

Nanono further urged state governments to encourage the development of small scale wheat processing mills to enhance the availability of flour and other wheat products.

In his remark, the Kano State Deputy Governor, Nasiru Gawuna, said the state government had concluded plans to establish additional water bodies and upgrade existing dams to encourage wheat cultivation and other irrigation activities.

Gawuna said the government had embarked on the rehabilitation and desilting of Watari dam and upgrade of irrigation schemes in Bagwai LGA.

Read also: Nigerian govt to support farmers with interest-free loans —Agric minister

While reiterating the government’s commitment to supporting farmers, Gawuna urged the farmers to utilise the inputs to improve their productivity.

Also speaking, Alhaji Salihu Muhammad, Chairman, Wheat Farmers Association of Nigeria, called for the inclusion of wheat farmers into the Federal Government’s Anchor Borrower Programme (APB).

According to him, the exclusion of their 200,000 registered members had negatively affected wheat production in the country.

Ripples Nigeria gathered that Flour Milling Association of Nigeria (FMAN) had provided support to 800 farmers in Kano, Kebbi and Jigawa States to accelerate wheat cultivation.

The farmers were provided with improved seeds variety, fertilisers, chemicals and 50 threshers under a soft loan scheme designed to enhance farmer access to inputs and extension services.

FMAN, in collaboration with Oxfam and agricultural research institutes, had also established wheat farming service centres in 15 LGAs in the participating states, while plans were underway to expand the scope of the programme to mobilise additional participation.

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now