Agricultural Development: Yobe Gov’t Begins Training Of 178 Extension Agents

From Yusuf Bukar Biriri, Damaturu

Wed, 18th Dec, 2024

Parts of measures towards reinvigorating the agricultural sector in line with the mandate of the revitalisation committee constituted by Governor Mai Mala Buni CON, the Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources, has commenced three days of training for the 178 extension agents in the state.

The training was categorised into two zones with 8 local governments in Damaturu centre, and the remaining 9 in Gashu’a centre was declared open by the commissioner of the ministry, Hon Ali Mustapha Goniri.

He restarted government commitment towards training and retraining Agricultural extension workers to improve service delivery, food security and sufficiency in Yobe state, saying the government has also organised the first-ever Yobe agricultural summit after 33 years of creation.

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The commissioner said the training was equally meant to ensure that the huge investment of Governor Buni’s administration in the agricultural sector amounting to billions of naira yielded positive results, pointing out that the recent government-launched mega agricultural empowerment Programme to provide inputs and equipment to over five thousand three hundred and forty beneficiaries across the seventeen local government areas of the state to ensure self-reliance in food production and create employment opportunities.

Hon Ali Mustapha Goniri said the extension agents, being key under the Agricultural Development Programme’s ADP activities, need to be acquainted with the requisite and innovative techniques of farming for the benefit of the people at the grassroots level.

He said climate change, among other challenges of modern farming, requires innovative techniques that will help farmers navigate through for better yield.

“This is a bold step at the right time, taking into cognisance the current global direction of prioritising Agro-Economy for both crops and livestock farming to ensure food security and value chain resilience he added.

Hon Ali Mustapha Goniri called on the participants to pay rapt attention to the seasoned invited facilitators and commended the resource person, which includes professors of veterinary and Agric Economics of high profile for training the extension agents.

Earlier, the Programme Manager of the ADP, Mallam Gana, said, “The training was aimed at refreshing the minds and capacity of the extension agents for them to disseminate proper and innovative techniques learnt to our teaming farmers across nooks and crannies of the state.”

The Manager used the forum and commended the state government under the able leadership of Governor Mai Mala Buni as well as the Commissioner of Agriculture, among other officials, for their efforts towards revitalisation of the Agricultural sector in the state.

Some participants who spoke to Newsmen Bukar Bukar Gaidam extension agents and Usman Mohammed Kalli Nguru extension agents assured to step down the knowledge acquired to facilitate improved food productivity across Yobe state.

They further commended the efforts of the state government under the leadership of Governor Mai Mala Buni for investing heavily in the agricultural sector.

Papers were presented by Dr Bashir Baba from Lake Chad Research Centre on group foundation development and dynamics, Ibrahim Bello on good agricultural practices and Nana Ballam on extension agents’ behaviour and attitude in delivering extension messages.

Others are Auwal Danladi on livestock management and disease control and professor Haruna Abdullahi Danwanka of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Bauchi on agricultural business and value addition in extension service delivery.