The Federal Government has disclosed moves to increase knowledge of agricultural extension workers to address food insecurity caused by the Boko Haram insurgency crisis in Borno State.
Representatives of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mohammed Umara, stated this after a four-day training organised for Extension Workers and Selected Agricultural Value Chains in Maiduguri.
He said the training aimed at re-equip 40 extension workers on extension tools and methodologies on selected agricultural value chains in Borno State.
He expressed worry over the declining fortunes of the agricultural extension system due to the crisis that bedevil the state.
“This training will empower the extension workforce with the knowledge that will enhance service delivery to farmers at grassroots.”
“We aim to increase manpower and revive the hope of young people in agricultural entrepreneurship, especially in northeast region which had adversely affected food production as a result of insurgency conflict,” Umara said.
He also explained that the training is one of several strategies planned by his Ministry to halt the drift in the agricultural extension system with aim of reviving economy.
In his remark, Acting Programme Manager State Agricultural Development Programme(ADP), Dariam Mohammed, said that the programme is an attempt by the Federal Government to ensure farmers’ involvement in food sufficient is actualised.
“Let me use this medium to inform the trainees as well as other resource persons that this is the beginning of another timely intervention by the Federal Government in introducing the concept of value chains towards efficient food production and self-sufficiency in line with federal government agenda,” Mohammed said.
