The Federal Government, in collaboration with the Ogun State Government and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), through the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ) Programme, has trained farmer organisations and agricultural extension officers on climate-smart agricultural practices.
The State Programme Coordinator, SAPZ, Mr. Ibrahim Busi during the capacity-building training in Abeokuta, explained that the training was designed to equip farmers and extension personnel with the knowledge and skills required to adopt sustainable and climate-resilient farming practices that would enhance agricultural productivity, promote value addition, reduce post-harvest losses and improve farmers’ livelihoods.
Busi added that the training was aimed at strengthening the capacity of farmers and extension personnel to effectively respond to the challenges posed by climate change, while improving the efficiency, sustainability as well as profitability of agricultural production.
According to him, beneficiaries from Odogbolu, Obafemi Owode, Yewa North and Ijebu East Local Government Areas had already undergone the training, while farmers and agricultural extension officers in Odeda, Ikenne, Ijebu North East and Yewa South Local Government Areas were the current beneficiaries.
He noted that the intervention was being implemented across 8 Local Government Areas in Ogun State under the IFAD-supported SAPZ programme, with emphasis on equipping farmers with practical knowledge of climate-smart techniques applicable to the relevant agricultural value chains.
The State Programme Coordinator stressed that the adoption of climate-smart agriculture would enable farmers to improve productivity, build resilience to climate variability as well as mitigate the adverse effects of environmental challenges on agricultural production.
He urged participants to put the knowledge acquired into practice and share the lessons with other farmers in their respective communities, noting that such knowledge-sharing would help to expand the impact and sustainability of the intervention.
Speaking on the essence of the training, the facilitator and Director of Tree Crops in the Ogun State Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Mr. James Oyesola, said the capacity-building programme was designed to educate farmers on appropriate methods of planting and managing crops in line with climate variability.
Oyesola, highlighted the effects of climate change on agricultural production, particularly the vulnerability of rice and cassava value chains to changing climatic conditions, stressing the need for farmers to adopt appropriate practices that would enable them to maintain productivity and resilience in the face of climate-related challenges.
Earlier, Environment and Climate Change Officer, Mrs. Temidayo Adedigba, admonished participants to take full advantage of the training as it was aimed at bringing their attention to some of their activities that were contributing to climate change, urging them to apply the knowledge gained to their farming activities.
On behalf of other beneficiaries, a cassava farmer from Ijebu North East Local Government Area, Mr. Alawode Olumide, expressed appreciation to the Federal Government, Ogun State Government and IFAD for organising the training, describing the training as impactful and practical, assuring that the knowledge acquired would be cascaded to other farmers within their communities to enhance productivity and promote sustainable agricultural practices.
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