In a bid to ensure a bountiful harvest this farming season, the Agriculture and Rural Development Secretariat of the FCT Administration has launched an intensive capacity-building workshop for its Agricultural Field Officers.
This initiative is part of a broader strategy to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of agricultural services provided to farmers.
Lawan Kolo Geidam, the Mandate Secretary of the Agriculture and Rural Development Secretariat, represented by Permanent Secretary Grace Adayilo, emphasized the proactive nature of this initiative.
“This workshop is a strategic move to bolster the capabilities of our field officers, ensuring they can deliver superior services to farmers,” said Geidam.
The workshop, themed “Prevention, Identification, Diagnosis, and Management of Common Crop Diseases,” aims to address the significant losses farmers face due to inadequate knowledge of effective agricultural practices.
“I urge participants to leverage this opportunity to deepen their expertise, which will be crucial when disseminating this knowledge to farmers, equipping them with the skills needed to combat crop diseases and enhance productivity,” Geidam added.
Geidam also reassured farmers of the continuous support from the FCT Administration, led by Honourable Minister Barrister Nyesom Wike and Minister of State Mariya Mahmoud, prioritizing agriculture to achieve food and nutrition security in the FCT.
Permanent Secretary Grace Adayilo, speaking during the interactive session, underscored the importance of integrating traditional farming methods with modern agricultural practices.
She noted the challenges small-scale farmers face in accessing advanced technologies and stressed the Secretariat’s commitment to involving the Agriculture Development Project (ADP) in all grassroots initiatives.
“The ADP’s involvement ensures that government programs reach and positively impact farmers at the grassroots level,” Adayilo stated.
Mr. Ofili Beneth, Acting Director of the Department of Agricultural Services, highlighted the department’s ongoing communication efforts with farmers across all 62 wards of the FCT. “We have established a robust communication channel to provide vital information to farmers, ensuring they are well-informed and supported,” Beneth said.
Beneth expressed optimism that the workshop would herald a new era of knowledge-based agricultural practices, promising prosperity for the FCT populace. “This initiative marks the beginning of an informed and empowered farming community capable of achieving unprecedented agricultural success,” he concluded.
