By; SANI ALIYU, Zaria
The Country Director Alliance for Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) Dr. Kayinde Makinde has said they have engaged about one million farmers in Kaduna and Niger states.
He disclosed this at the AGRA/NAERLS Kaduna Consortium projects field visit and projects commissioning at NAERLS at Likoro, Kudan Local Government Area of Kaduna State yesterday.
He said from 2017 to date, AGRA has transformed farmers through improved farming yield by using quality and improved seed.
Dr. Makinde said, the challenge is how to educate farmers on how to use new technologies with modern farming inputs.
He said AGRA will still look for more partnership with Kaduna State Government because it has been supporting them.
The Country Director expressed appreciation to NAERLS for impacting modern farming into smallholder farmers.
In his remarks, the Kaduna State Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr. Dabo Mohammed described Alliance for Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) as agricultural saviour in the state through its support programmes.
He said Kaduna State is excited with the support and it will continue to partner AGRA in promoting agriculture in the state.
While commenting on the efforts put in place by the AGRA/NAERLS Kaduna Consortium projects in various farmer groups across the state, the commissioner charged seed companies to produce quality seeds to farmers at affordable price.
According to him, this will definitely make farmers improve their productivity capacity.
Earlier in his remarks, the Executive Director National Agricultural Extension Research and Liason Services (NAERLS)
Professor Emmanuel Ikani lamented that agricultural extension workers in some states have closed their offices.
He said, it is a sad situation that agriculture is being neglected by many state governments for no reason.
Prof. Ikani said, following this neglect, the institute introduced Community Based Advisors (CBAs) to complement the low numbers of extension workers in the faming community.
The Director appealed to Kaduna State Government to change its approach and face agriculture with all seriousness as well to employ more extension workers to help smallholder farmers .
During the event demonstration farm site was visited at NAERLS and Likoro and commissioning of Climate Smart Learning site at Likoro in Kudan Local Government Area.
