FADZA Multi Concept Limited in collaboration with Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has organised a training program for maize and rice growers to demonstrate climate resilient practices.
The emergency training assisted by the Agricultural Development Programme on the need for extension services was held at the ADP Hall, Ministry of Agriculture, Awka with participants drawn from across the state and beyond.
Declaring the training open,the State Commissioner for Agriculture,Dr Forster Ihejiofor, said the capacity building was necessary considering the strategic Importance of rice and maize production as regards the nation’s economy.
He explained that the program is train the trainee workshop on best agronomic practices in which farmers are expected to reciprocate the training to other farmers at their different areas.
While stating that stakeholders should join hands with government to wage war against climate crisis to boost food production, he underscored the importance of regenerative agriculture as well as benefits derivable from its practice.
The State Programme Manager,Agric Development Programme, Mr Jude Nwankwo, reiterated his commitment to ensure extension delivery services to farmers to mitigate losses occasioned by flooding.
“We want to ensure no farmer loses his crops to flood by letting them know the best way to plant and harvest before flooding. The state government has been supportive to us on extension services.”
The Desk Officer Extension, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Anambra State, Vincent Okeke, described the event as apt and urged the participants to take the messages on climate changes and regenerative agriculture seriously.
Contributing, the Senior Agric Officer, Department of Agric Extension,FMARD,Abuja,Charle Ezendu,said they considered it proper to stage the event to train farmers on climate resilient practices.
He, therefore urged all rice and maize farmers to be diligent in terms of agronomic practices so that they could yield better harvest.
The Director of Technical Services,ADP, Godwin Akujieze, stressed the need to adopt best practices in rice production with a view to increasing productivity from the present national average yield of less than 2 tons of paddy per hectare to 4-8 tons of paddy per hectare.
“To achieve this level of productivity, farmers have to adopt entrepreneurial approach to rice production.”
Some of the participants including Florence Odum and Obiora Ude