The Nigeria Incentive-Based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL) in collaboration with Jigawa state government has trained 1,016 agricultural extension agents and farmer cluster leaders.
The training took place on Tuesday at the state Polytechnic Dutse, Jigawa state capital under the National Agricultural Growth Scheme and Agro Pocket (NAGS-AP).
According to the NIRSAL’s Managing Director, Abbas Umar, represented by Suleimen Ibrahim, the leader of the training told Journalists that the workshop is to educate the participants on the need for groupings.
“A total of 355 extension agents and 706 farmer cluster leaders from Kiyawa, Birnin Kudu, Ringim, Hadejia, and Kazaure took part in the first phase of the training sessions, held in four of the five emirates of the state.
“NIRSAL, established to de-risk agriculture and facilitate commercial finance for agribusiness in Nigeria.
“It has developed several models for de-risking primary production in what it considers, the upstream segment of the agricultural value chain.
“This is against the backdrop of banks’ aversion to financing primary production because of the inherent risks”, Umar said.
He explained that the participants are expected to transmit the knowledge gained along with the training materials received to the members of their respective clusters.
“Federal Government has done precisely what it should, it has communicated its vision for food security in Nigeria, provided leadership, and is committing resources to back its vision.
“On our part, we are showing our readiness to support Jigawa state, and all other states, to walk the talk of the government.
“We are contributing our expertise by preparing these extension agents and farmers to make success out of this collective endeavour for Jigawa’s and Nigeria’s sakes,” according to the MD.
On the part of the state government, the Commissioner for Agriculture, Muttaka Namadi, commended NIRSAL for its commitment to the state’s wheat project, counting on the support to lead to the success of the project.
Also a participant and a Zonal Director Extension in charge of Birninkudu zone, Mr Hamisu Muhammad, said the NIRSAL’s training will impact positively on agriculture in the state.
