Date: 2021-09-10

National Directorate of Employment (NDE) has flagged off a new scheme called Agricultural Extended Training for 50 beneficiaries on agricultural extension services, also known as agricultural advisory services in Kwara State.

Speaking with journalists during the programme in Ilorin, the director-general of the agency, Mallam Abubakar Nuhu Fikpo, said the training is a process of working with rural people to offer pieces of advice and information that will help them solve their problems.

Represented by the state coordinator, Engineer Aba Timothy, the director-general said that the training include programmes such as technical advice on agriculture to farmers, supply of necessary inputs and information, such as the passing of new ideas developed by agricultural research stations to them.

"It is an informal educational process directed towards the rural population This training plays a crucial role in boosting agricultural production, by increasing food security, improving rural livelihood and thereby promote agriculture as an engine of pro-poor economic growth.

"A trained beneficiary becomes a teacher, philosopher or leader, that guide and serves as a colleague to the farmers, in their community on the basis of his special qualities, to carry on developmental agricultural processes successfully and also lives in the midst of the community to propagate his programme," he said.

Engineer Timothy also urged the beneficiaries to capitalise and explore the opportunity of being the pioneer beneficiaries to impart meaningfully in their respective communities for improved production output.