The Federal Government has trained no fewer than 7,000 extension workers as part of renewed effort to avail farmers with latest information on varieties and the best available options to improve agricultural productivity and ensure food Security.
The Minister of Agricultural and Rural Development, Alhaji Sabo Nanono
disclosed this at the launch and unveiling of Pod Borer Resistant Cowpea in Kano, today.
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The ‘PBR Cowpea’ code named Sampea-20-T has been certified as the Cowpea’ seed variety that resist insects and other pest.
The Minister, who was represented by the Executive Secretary, Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria (ARCN), Prof. Garba Sharubutu said the Federal Government found it necessary to train the extension workers in order to ensure that farmers are provided with the best farming technologies for better yield.
He said the Department of extension services had been repositioned with a view to ensuring effective service delivery and boost food production in the country.
Nanono said the Federal Government had concluded arrangement to establish va Radio and Television stations that would broadcast on agriculture matters nationwide.
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According to him, the station which would commence operation before the end of this year, would keep farmers in the country abreast with latest farming technologies to boost their productivity.
He, therefore, urged farmers to use the new Cowpea seed variety in order to boost their productivity and increase their income.
In his remark, the Kano State Govenorn, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Usman Alhaji lamented that agricultural productivity is now at its lowest ebb.
According to him, farmers spend their scarce resources in controlling pest and managing the degraded soil fertility using fertilizer yet the return on investment is always very discouraging.
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“This is part of the reasons why most of our youths have refused to be involved in farming activity,” Ganduje said.
He commended the Institute of Agricultural Research, ABU Zaria, NBTDA and ARCN for their unrelenting effort in addressing challenges being faced by farmers in the country.
