A four-day training of extension workers on extension tools, methodologies and selected Agricultural value chains, has simultaneously kicked off in the thirty-six states of the federation including the Federal Capital Territory Abuja.
The training, which is the second batch, is organized by the Federal Department of Agricultural Extension, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural development in collaboration with the National Agricultural Extension and Research Liaison Services, NAERLS, Sasakawa-Africa Association/Global 2000.
Ebele Ezeh reports that while declaring the training open at Anambra State Agricultural Development Programme office in Awka, the state Commissioner for Agriculture, Chief Nnamdi Onukwuba disclosed that Anambra State has selected three key value chains of Turmeric, Ginger and Cucumber to propagate for export market.
Chief Onukwuba charged the participants to expand the production base of these three key value chains in their various council areas as the Anambra State International Cargo and Passengers Airport has increased the export potential of the state.
In his address, read by the state Director, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural development, Comrade Arthur Mbuba, the minister of Agriculture and Rural development, Dr. Muhammed Nanono described the training as one of the several strategies planned by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural development to halt the drift in the Agricultural extension system with the aim of pursuing the revitalization agenda of the Nigerian economy by the Federal government.
For the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mr. Ernest Umakhihe, who spoke through the desk officer extension, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural development, Awka, Mr. Vincent Okeke, the drive by the present administration to revitalize agricultural extension services in Nigeria, was to help farmers and value chain actors to make effective use of productive forces and advances in information technology to improve the livelihood of rural population, create jobs and promote sustainable agriculture and socio-economic development of the country.
The Director, Federal Department of Agricultural Extension, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural development, Engineer Frank Kudla, represented by his Technical Assistant, Mr. Eugene Anakwe, announced that outside the three motorcycles already delivered to the State, the minister has also approved a nap sack sprayer and a-three-day liter herbicides for each participant.
The Programme Manager, Anambra State Agricultural Development Programme, Awka, Mr. Jude Nwankwor said that the training is aimed at achieving food security and charged the participants to listen attentively, garner more knowledge to step down for multiplier effects.
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