In an effort to enhance agricultural productivity in Nigeria and enhance the skills of farmers in the South-West region, the Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service (NAQS) and Arajek Multi Services Ltd have collaborated to organize a training focused on improving agricultural farming techniques specifically for maize, plantain, and oil palm cultivation in Oyo State.
A total of 100 farmers from each state have been carefully selected to attend this training workshop. The workshop, which commenced on Monday at the Federal College Of Animal Health and Production Technology (FCAH&PT), located in Moor Plantation, Ibadan (the capital of Oyo State), is scheduled to conclude today.
During his welcome speech, Mr. Rahman Idris, the Chairman of Arajek Multi Services Ltd, emphasized the significant role of agriculture in addressing crucial aspects such as food security, employment generation, contribution to the gross domestic product, and wealth creation.
Mr. Idris pointed out that a substantial percentage, ranging from 65 to 75 percent, of the Nigerian population actively participates in agricultural activities.
Idris said: “There is no way one would not eat in a day unless he or she is fasting, thus there is the need to encourage agriculture in Nigeria. We have good land from North to the South and from West to the East.”
He recommended that the attendees collaborate with the resource individuals to accomplish the predetermined goals of the workshop.
Subsequently, he expressed gratitude towards the NAQS management and staff members for their technical assistance, among other things.
During his address to the participants, Professor Adeboye Omole, the training coordinator, provided an overview of the training and emphasized the importance of punctuality, attentiveness, and active participation.
He also expressed gratitude to the Federal Government and NAQS for their timely intervention in training youths and women in agricultural activities. Professor Omole acknowledged the chairman of Arajek Multi Services Limited, Honourable Kolapo Osunsanya, for facilitating the project and providing this opportunity.
Mrs. Bello Hadijat Jumoke, representing Dr. Vincent Isegbe, the Comptroller General of NAQS, welcomed the participants to the training workshop. She urged them to apply the knowledge they would gain during the training to ensure that their time spent in the program would not be in vain.