The National Agricultural Development Fund (NADF) has commenced nationwide training of no fewer than 1,884 agricultural extension workers and food security specialists from the North Central states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The NADF, at the training held in Nasarawa, Lafia, on Monday, said it would be carried out nationwide.

The training was tagged the “Grassroots Digital Extension Corps (GDEC) Initiative”.

Mohammed Ibrahim, the executive secretary of NADF, said the initiative aimed to strengthen the capacity of extension workers across the geopolitical zones.

Represented by Yejide Olarinde, the head of policy and advocacy, Mr Ibrahim said the training was the first in a nationwide series that would be replicated in other geopolitical zones.

He said the exercise would train 1,110 extension agents and 774 food security specialists, creating a pool of professionals equipped to support farmers and improve food security planning.

Mr Ibrahim identified extension workers as central to improving agricultural productivity.

“Agricultural extension remains the critical link between research institutions, government interventions and farming communities.

“Strengthening the capacity of extension personnel is essential to improving technology adoption, increasing productivity and achieving sustainable food security.

“On completion of the training, each participant will receive a digital tablet loaded with the approved training curriculum and extension materials. These digital tools will ensure that extension personnel have easy access to training materials and can effectively deliver knowledge and advisory services to farmers wherever they are deployed,” he said.

He emphasised that each participant is expected to undergo intensive sessions on digital extension services, climate-smart agriculture, data collection, farmer advisory services and modern communication techniques before receiving professional certification at the end of the programme.

Amao Oluwakemi, a representative of the Federal Department of Agricultural Extension (FDAE), described the programme as a timely intervention.

She identified a stronger extension system as critical to getting improved technologies into the hands of farmers.

“This training comes at a critical time when strengthening extension services is essential for increasing agricultural productivity and ensuring that innovations developed through research effectively reach farmers at the grassroots,” she said. 

(NAN)