Yobe Govt' ready to complete revitalisation of agricultural sector.

From Yusuf Bukar Biriri  Damaturu.

Yobe state government has restated its commitment to continue training and retraining of extension agents under the agricultural development programme (ADP) to transform  extension service delivery and revitalisation of the agricultural sector.

The third series of the  training is currently taking place simultaneously in the Damaturu and Bade centres respectively with over one hundred and seventy-eight participants from each of the political wards.

Declaring open the training commissioner Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources Alhaji Ali Mustapha Goniri said the state government demonstrated commitment to ensure self-reliance in food production and create employment opportunities and food security through proper utilisation of extension agents.

 "Government, as a deliberate policy, reintroduced the training and retraining of agricultural extension agents to improve food security and sufficiency in the state the commissioner added.

 He further reassured government commitment to transform the entire agricultural sector, which demonstrated the present administration's commitment to organising the first-ever agricultural summit since the creation of Yobe state thirty-three years ago.

Alhaji Ali Mustapha Goniri Said, the present administration of Governor Buni, has also developed five-year sector strategic plans and agricultural policies and established livestock development centres in the state aimed at improving livestock productivity to enhance the livestock value chain.

According to the commissioner in addition to the recent launching of the mega agricultural empowerment Programme to provide agriculture implements 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 to people of the state.

The commissioner called on the extension agents to pay attention and listen attentively to the presentation that will guide them to address the issues that might arise in the cause of Fieldwork, pointing out that the training and retraining initiative is a continuous exercise to disseminate meaningful knowledge and skills to farmers across the state he emphasised.

He further charged them to be more committed to serving the state diligently to attain the goals of the state government in the revitalisation of the agricultural sector for socioeconomic growth and development.

Earlier in his welcome address, the Programme Manager Yobe  Agricultural Development Programme, ADP Engineer Mallam Gana  Adam, Said the agricultural extension agents' roles in the development of agricultural development would serve as a bridge between the institution and farmers in ensuring the transfer of modern agricultural techniques.

The Programme Manager said ADP embarked on training and retraining of extension agents to update them on how to utilise modern agricultural implements and new farming techniques, adding that well-trained extension agents provide better guidance, communication and problem-solving, among others.

Engineer Mallam Gana Adam reaffirmed that with the recent challenges in agricultural productivity related to climate change, pest infestation and soil degradation, there is a need for training the extension agents to address the challenges.

Some participants who spoke to journalist Bukar Goni Usman Gaidam and Mohammed A Hussaini Yusufari, Abdullahi Muhammad Bade assured to  Step down the skills acquired to  farmers to improve food productivity across the state.

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

Papers were presented by Dr Adamu Usman Daya on poultry and livestock management, Ya'u Yelwa Mamudo on extension agent and farmers relation, Maraya A Shehu on good agronomic practice Audu Audu Daya on new irrigation techniques and effective extension service.

It could be recalled that some months ago, the ministry organised similar training for extension agents across the state to equip them with prerequisite skills on how to handle multi-billion naira agricultural implements provided by the present administration of governor Mai Mala Buni to improve food security and sufficiency.