Kebbi, Adamawa workers trained on school farm programme

Over 70 government extension workers in Kebbi and Adamawa states have completed a special training on farm field school programme. The Deputy Country Director Oxfam Nigeria Mr. Constant Tchona said yesterday in a statement that the Training of Trainers (ToT) programme covered Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) for improved productivity in major crops like rice, sorghum, […]

Over 70 government extension workers in Kebbi and Adamawa states have completed a special training on farm field school programme.

The Deputy Country Director Oxfam Nigeria Mr. Constant Tchona said yesterday in a statement that the Training of Trainers (ToT) programme covered Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) for improved productivity in major crops like rice, sorghum, soybeans, maize, onions agroforestry and livestock; group organization and dynamics; integrated crop management; and basic agribusiness principles among others.

“The Farm Training Field School (FTFS) aimed at improving production and food security, nutrition security and income of smallholder farmers in the two states was designed to use the scheme as a ‘school without walls’ to teach these small-scale farmers improved technologies of production. The training was conducted using participatory adult learning and on-farm demonstration methodologies.

“The main objective of the training was to refresh, update, and upgrade the capacities of State Governments Extension workers to deliver-up-to-date extension services to the rural farmers through the establishment of the FTFS in Kebbi and Adamawa States. The training will also complement the efforts of the State Governments to resuscitate community level extension services that hitherto have been ineffective and moribund,” Tchona said.

He said the trainees were expected to facilitate the creation of farmers training field schools in communities where farmers will be trained on improved farming methods in line with good agricultural practices.

He said 30 farmer training field schools will be established by the extension workers in PROACT communities in Kebbi State while 40 similar schools will be established in Adamawa State project communities.

In his opening remarks during the event in Birnin-Kebbi, the Kebbi State Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Alhaji Mohammed Dandiga commended the European Union (EU) and Oxfam for being good partners that provide supports on all areas of agricultural productivity in the State through PROACT.

“The time for the training couldn’t have been better than now when Kebbi State is at the centre of national discourse in Agricultural Production in Nigeria. Kebbi State Government will continue to provide necessary support to the success of PROACT in the state,” Dandiga said.

On his part the Adamawa State Commissioner for Agriculture, Eng. Ahmed Wazirir who represented the State Governor, Mohammed Bindow, commended Oxfam and EU for re-activating the agricultural extension services in the state via the FTFS scheme.