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Agriculture

Organic agric: Training programme will strengthen farmers – Coordinator

Organic agric: Training programme will strengthen farmers – Coordinator
By Ebere Agozie
Empowerment
Abuja, Dec. 8, 2018 (NAN) Dr Olugbenga Adeoluwa, the Country Coordinator, Ecological Organic Agriculture (EOA) Initiative in Nigeria, says the “Train the Trainers Programme’’ adopted by the project will strengthen farmers’ empowerment.
Adeoluwa made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday in Abuja ahead of the upcoming Northern segment of the programme, organised by the Association of Organic Agriculture Practitioners of Nigeria.
He said the certificate course training with the theme ‘Organic Agriculture: Principles, Practices and Entrepreneurship’ would take place in Abuja from Dec. 10 to Dec. 14, Abuja Enterprise Agency, Jahi District.
“The training of capacity building for management, decision-making, communication and leadership is central to organic agriculture practice.
“It will give participants the capacity to analyse farmers’ constraints and identify opportunities, articulate their needs, exchange information on the use of relevant agricultural knowledge and technologies.
“And also serve as a way to stimulate organic agricultural productivity and as well make farming as a career more attractive to people’’.
Adeoluwa said that the organic agriculture training would cover a broad range of formal and informal activities that build capacity within the sector.
“The training is therefore the principal source from which farmers can access resources for improving agricultural productivity and natural resource management.
“It will contribute to agricultural development by strengthening capabilities for innovation and willingness to adopt and apply the principles of organic farming.
“Farmer-to-farmer communication is also a powerful tool since most people communicate more easily with their peers and tend to quickly adopt practices once recognised as successful,” said the coordinator..
According to him, the programme was designed to take place in different parts of Nigeria, arranged into groups – South-East/South-South, South-West and Northern zone. (NAN)
EPA/MST
Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Economy

185,000 applicants to access CBN AGSMEIS loans nationwide – NDE D-G

185,000 applicants to access CBN AGSMEIS loans nationwide – NDE D-G
By Awayi Kuje
NDE
Lafia, Nov. 14, 2018 (NAN) The National Directorate of Employment (NDE) says no fewer than 185, 000 applicants will benefit from the Central Bank of Nigeria Agri-Business Small and Medium Enterprise Investment Scheme (AGSMEIS) loans nationwide.
The NDE Director-General, Dr Nasiru Ladan-Argungu, made this known at the orientation of 450 trainees of four schemes of the agency in Nasarawa State on Wednesday.
He listed the schemes as National Open Apprenticeship Scheme (B-NOAS), Advanced National Open Apprenticeship Scheme (A-NOAS), Sustainable Agricultural Development Scheme (SADTS) and Environmental Beautification Training Scheme (EBTS).
Ladan-Argungu, represented by the Nasarawa State Coordinator of the scheme, Alhaji Dauda Idris, urged the youths in the state to take this opportunity at their doorsteps to help their families and the society at large.
He said the beneficiaries of the AGSMEIS were young artisans, expected to be the next generational cosmetology products producers, fashion designers, farmers, electricians and Computer operators, among others.
“They will through multiplier effect creation of several thousand other jobs to enhance the nation’s economy.’’
The director-general added that the directorate had empowered over 20,000 women trained on cosmetology across the six geopolitical zones of the country.
“It has also concluded plans to empower over 11,000 micro businesses with N10,000 each under the micro Enterprise Enhancement Scheme (MEES) to reduce unemployment and poverty bedevilling the country,” he said.
Earlier, Mr Rotgak Goar, the Head of Department, Vocational Skills Development in Nasarawa State, thanked the director-general for the various schemes implemented nationwide to better the lives of many helpless young persons.
He said the orientation was aimed at exposing the participants to the advantages, rules, regulations, code of conduct and conditions governing the different training schemes.
He advised them to take the training serious, adding that these schemes will transform their lives.
Responding on behalf of her colleagues, Ms Fatima Gambo, a beneficiary thanked the NDE for the gesture and promised to be good ambassadors of the scheme. (NAN)
AKW/OFN/MST
Edited by Felix Nwadioha/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Agriculture

NGO advocates 10% increase in agric budget

NGO advocates 10% increase in agric budget

NAN-H-45

Food

By Awayi Kuje

Lafia, March 9, 2017 (NAN) The Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA), an NGO, in Nasarawa State, has advocated 10 per cent budget increase for agriculture by government at all levels to achieve national food security.

Mr Ango Adamu, the Executive Secretary of the NGO, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Lafia.

He fielded questions at this year’s International Women’s Day (IWD) celebration.

Adamu said: “As you can see our NGO women wearing T-shirts advocating for 10 per cent increase in agricultural budget because the importance of agriculture cannot be over-emphasised to the development of the country.

“No society can live comfortably without agriculture.

“Agriculture is the major source of livelihood of every family, nation and its importance cannot be over-emphasised to the development of any society.

“Apart from ensuring food security, agriculture also provides job opportunities as well as boost the revenue and the socio-economic development of the state and the country at large,” he said.

According to him, if government at all levels give topmost attention to the agriculture sector, the present economic challenges facing the country will be a thing of the past.

He added that it would also reduce over-dependence on oil as the nation’s major foreign currency earner and fight poverty, youth restiveness and other social vices in the country.

The executive secretary also appealed to the government to continue to give soft loans to farmers in order to achieve food sufficiency.

The women also concurred with the executive secretary.

They said that if government increased its budget spending by 10 per cent, it would boost food production, fight poverty, and boost the revenue base of the nation.

Mrs Kasuwa Nathaniel, said: “We are here to celebrate our day and we are happy that the state government, through the Nasarawa State Commissioner for Women Affairs, Mrs Mary Enwongulu, has made the day a reality for us.

“Our appeal is for the government to increase the agricultural budget so as to tackle poverty.

“The present hardship the nation is facing would fade away as agriculture is one of the ways that the nation can boost the economy in order to get out of recession,” she said.

Another woman, Mrs Halima Abu, also urged the government to increase agriculture budget to encourage food sufficiency.

She also urged the government to initiate projects that would have positive effects on the lives of rural dwellers for the overall development of the country.

The event also featured different women wearing T-Shirts advocating 10 per cent increase in agricultural budget.

NAN reports that the theme for this year’s IWD is: “Be Bold for Change”. (NAN)

AKW/MOL/MST

Edited by Mustapha Lamidi/Muhammad Suleiman Tola