Minister of Agriculture and Rural
Development,
Minister of Agriculture and Rural
Development, Sabo Nanono
FG worries over dearth of Agric Extension
Worker
The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Alhaji
Muhammad Sabo Nanono has stated that the sector is in dire need of
extension workers. He noted that only a mere 15 thousand extension
workers are available Nationwide to serve a farming population of
about 70 million.
The Minister stated this when he received in audience
Agricultural Development Partners yesterday in his office in
Abuja.
Alhaji Nanono, further stated that agricultural extension
workers are vital in the development of agricultural value chains
and also serve the need to boost food production so as to ensure
food security, alleviate poverty as well as to create job
opportunity for the teaming Nigeria Youths.
The Minister therefore appealed to the Development Partners to
review their strategy and initiate a Programme to train more
extension workers. This he said will help lift the Nigerian farmers
from subsistence level to a mechanized level.
Nanono also said that the extension workers will help train
peasant farmers in the proper use of fertilizer and other related
agricultural inputs to boost food production.
The Development Partners in the likes of French Development
Bank, World Bank, FAO, ADB, IFAD, Bill and Melinda Gate Foundation,
Islamic Development Bank amongst others, led by Dr. Samba Kawa
of USAID, assured the Minister of their unalloyed support to
deliver Government strategic goals in agriculture. They promised to
train more extension workers to support the 70 million farmers in
order to enhance food production.
Also in attendance was the Minister of State, Hon. Mustapha
Shehuri and Permanent Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Bello Umar.
Okeh Juliet (Mrs)
Senior Information Officer
For: Director (Information).