Ahead of the 2021 farming season, the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD), Thursday, concluded a four-day training for 30 agricultural extension agents in Edo state.
Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mr. Sabo Nanono, said the training became necessary in other to expose and equip the agents with best global agricultural practice.
Nanono said: “this training is one of several strategies planned by the ministry to halt the drift in agricultural extension system with the aim of pursuing the revitalisation agenda of the economic by the federal government”.
The Minister who was represented by the State Director of Agriculture, Mr. Wellington Omoragbon, said the training would build the capacity of youths and existing practitioners in agricultural Extension delivery system.
According to him, “over the years, the fortunes of agricultural extension system has declined majorly due to decreased funding, policy changes, reduced manpower and lack of interest in agricultural entrepreneurship.
“This situation has affected food production- exposing the country to danger of unemployment, youth restiveness and economic instability.”
Earlier, Mr. Peter Aikhuomobhogbe, the Programme Manager of Edo Agricultural Development Project (ADP), thanked FMARD for assisting to impact knowledge in the state extension agents.
Aikhuomobhogbe said the Edo ADP work plan for 2021 was to boost food production by 30 percent.
