The Federal Government has on Monday commenced the training of 1,110 agriculture extension agents in all 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory.
The exercise was flagged off by the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Sabo Nanono, at the headquarters of the States’ Agricultural Development Projects in Abuja.
Nanono said 30 extension agents each from the 36 states and the FCT were being trained by the Federal Government to realise the country’s agricultural goals.
“The training of agricultural extension agents across the 36 states of Nigeria and the FCT is holding in all the 37 headquarters of the state’s Agricultural Development Projects.
“Agricultural extension delivery is the driver of all agricultural policies and research, without which all effort in the agricultural ecosystem may not realise its intended goals.”
Speaking further, Nanono noted that over the years, the fortunes of the agricultural extension system had declined majorly due to decreased funding, policy changes, reduced manpower and lack of interest of young people in agricultural entrepreneurship.
“This situation has affected food production exposing the country to the dangers of unemployment, youth restiveness and economic instability,” the minister stated.
“This training is one of 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 revitalisation agenda of the Nigerian economy by the Federal Government.” Nanono added.
