By AgroNigeria
Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Sabo Nanono, has announced plans by the federal government to train over 50, 000 extension agents in order to boost agricultural productivity in the country.
Extension workers provide expert guidance to farmers on best procedures to improve their lands, and on standard modern agricultural practices to adopt to improve production.
Nanono has said that wrong agricultural practices, including the wrong application of seeds and fertiliser, are negatively impacting maximal crop production.
The minister made the observation while speaking at the National Seed Retreat organised by the National Agricultural Seeds Council (NASC).
He added that the training would help to bridge the gaps in production and standard of practices by educating farmers on the best methods to use.
Producing quality seed is an important part of this process, he also emphasised, adding that it was important to attaining food security.
Nanono said, “We have a big challenge on the application of seeds and fertilizers. We need the intervention of the agricultural extension agents on the application of farm input.
“It is said that one extension agent is to 125 farmers. The ratio of extension service agents to farmers in the country is too low.
“It is even too shameful to mention it. The issue of extension agent is a very serious matter.
“If we have the best seed and fertilizer, and they are wrongly applied, the agricultural yield will still be low.
“We are going to train extension agents. We are putting up a programme where 50,000 extension agents will be trained for the next three years. We are starting the training this year.”