Experts seek capacity building for farmers in local languages

Agricultural experts have asked states to adopt the use of local languages for capacity building of farmers and processors if agricultural practices must be adequately developed in the country. The experts are of the view that capacity of farmers and processors can best be built to help in the development of agricultural production in the […]

Agricultural experts have asked states to adopt the use of local languages for capacity building of farmers and processors if agricultural practices must be adequately developed in the country.

The experts are of the view that capacity of farmers and processors can best be built to help in the development of agricultural production in the country when local languages are used.

Speaking during the Farmers Interactive Forum organised by Daily Trust and the Kebbi State Government in Birnin Kebbi on Tuesday, Professor Aliyu Muhammadu Bunza of the Federal University, Gusau (FUG), said capacity building and education of farmers in the development of agricultural production could be best achieved if local languages were adopted.

He argued that mechanisation was no longer an option, but a must and that farmers needed to be educated in local languages to be able to handle them, noting that sadly, extension officers no longer educated farmers in local languages.

He emphasised that China and European nations were doing well in agricultural practices because they adopted their local languages and methods in dealing with farmers.

In his submission, Dr. Gabriel Awolewo of the Raw Materials Research Development Council (RMRDC) stated that Kebbi State was able to achieve more and at present was taking the lead in agricultural production in the country because it was engaging farmers in local languages. He said to understand new innovations in agricultural practices, use of farm tools and machinery, capacity building of farmers needed to be done in their local languages.

The founding partner, ORIGING Group, Mr. S.J Samuel, observed that the key problem in mechanised farming in the country, particularly in Kebbi State, was the unavailability of tractors to increase efficiency and output.

He said the unavailability of tractors had slowed down the pace and speed farmers could put to advance production. However, he suggested that farmers should be encouraged to form clusters in their respective states and government should make tractors available to them if there must be remarkable difference in agricultural output in the country.

The agricultural experts also suggested that the use of pumping machines for irrigation could be replaced with solar pumping machines. This, they reason, will reduce the cost of fueling pumping machines; particularly during the dry farming season.