The Program Manager Abia ADP Hon Chief Amanze Israel Izybest has eulogized the Honourable Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development of the federation for collaborating with Agricultural Development Programs in the country to train and empower Extension workers from all the states of Nigeria plus the Federal Capital Territory Abuja.
Chief Amanze Israel, Oke Orji Abia state, expressed his gratitude to the Honourable Minister while welcoming Participants to Abia ADP Umuahia during a training of 50 Extension Workers organized by Federal Ministry Of Agriculture and Rural Development in Collaboration with the Abia ADP at the Ossah Headquarters Umuahia.
He expressed the gratitude of staff of ADP and people of Abia state on the rich collaborations and good working relationship existing between FMARD and Abia ADP.
A team from Federal ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development was in Umuahia to organize the training of the third batch of 50 participants out of a targeted number of seventy five thousand Extension workers across the country designed to boost food production.
Speaking during the commencement of the 3 days training, the Honourable Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development Dr Mohammad Mamood Abubakar said agricultural extension delivery remains the driver of all agricultural policies and research.
Dr Abubakar represented by the state Director, Federal ministry of Agriculture Mr Aloysius Mba said food security cannot be achieved without the deployment of Extension workers and stressed the need for all to take the issue of food security seriously.
Declaring the training workshop open, the Commissioner for Agriculture Professor Ikechi Mgboji represented by the Permanent secretary of the Ministry Sir Emeka Ihedioha said Governor Okezie Ikpeazu is serious about anything concerning Agriculture and food security pointing out that agriculture remains the only way out of the present economic challenges and expressed optimism that Abia will get its fair share of the training.
Contributing, the Director, Federal Department of Agricultural Extension Abuja Mr Frank Kudla represented by Mrs Chinyere Ihedioha said the training is taking place across the 36 states and the FCT and attributed low agricultural production to decreasing number of Extension workers, lack of training and poor funding.
In his welcome address, the Program Manager, Abia State Agricultural Development program (ADP) Chief Israel Amanze said the training was to expose Extension workers to the rudiments of Agriculture adding that another batch will soon be trained and advised the trainees to learn and transmit the knowledge acquired to others.
Highpoints of the training workshop were lectures on Poultry, and Cassava production, and Poultry Production in addition to rudiments of Agricultural extension and ICT deployment in Agriculture by Eminent Resources Persons
A total number of 50 Extension workers were trained.Trainees were exposed to practical sessions and later presented with Certificates at the close of the training.
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