FG trains 2.2m farmers, youths, women in different agricultural value chains
The Federal Government says it has trained and empowered 2.2 million farmers, youths and women in different agricultural value chains.
Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr Mohammed Abubakar, made this known on Friday at a news conference to commemorate the 2021 World Food Day in Abuja.
“In the area of capacity building, a total of 2,205,576 farmers, youths, women were trained and empowered in different agricultural value chains.
He said also that while the training and empowerment were on-going, the ministry’s mandate to train and deploy 75,000 agriculture extension workers had reached an advanced stage.
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“To increase provision of protein and nutrition for Nigerians, 150 animals were inseminated and 10 pasture plots were established.
“A total of 352 crossbred cattle were generated and being used by pastoralists. The resulting impact will be increased supply of meat,’’ he said.
Abubakar also told newsmen that 783,102 tonnes of fish were cultivated in the National Accelerated Fish Production Programme.
He said to improve access to farmland and evacuation of produce, the ministry constructed 393.45 kilometres of asphalt and 271.8 kilometres of earth roads in the rural areas along farm settlement routes.
The minister said this reduced the cost of transportation of agricultural produce by 49 per cent to demand and storage outlets.
The theme for the 2021 World Food Day is: “Our Actions are our Future. Better production, better nutrition, a better environment and a better life.’’
