According to a news report from This Day, the Nigeria Incentive-Based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL) has successfully completed a mid-year training program designed to enhance the capabilities of lead farmers and extension agents involved in aquaculture and cassava value chains across various locations in Imo, Sokoto, Kwara, and Oyo States.

The program, which aimed to strengthen the farmers' ability to secure and repay commercial loans, attracted over 2,000 participants. Representatives from the respective state governments were also present at the event.

“As it continues to promote the Agro Geo-Cooperative approach to primary production, NIRSAL primarily targets lead farmers with the experience and skill to share new knowledge with members of their various cooperatives for its training programmes.

“In Imo State, where no less than 500 participants assembled in two locations—one urban and one rural, the focus was on efficient models for fish production. It was the same in Sokoto State, while the Oyo and Kwara outings focused on cassava,” the statement added.

Imo State House Committee Chairman on Agriculture, Mr. Uche Agabige, lauded NIRSAL for including Imo in the capacity building programme, with the belief that it would complement local efforts aimed at boosting agricultural productivity in the state.

Head of Value Chain Capacity Development at NIRSAL Plc, Mr. Ibrahim Suleiman, said the capacity development programme, which was part of the Technical Assistance offered by NIRSAL to agricultural value chain actors under its Technical Assistance pillar, was happening simultaneously in three other states spanning four geo-political zones.

According to Suleiman, lead farmers and extension agents in aquaculture and cassava were similarly gathered at two urban and rural locations in Sokoto, Oyo, and Kwara States, and they are expected to cascade the training to an estimated 6,000 farmers across the states.

The NIRSAL teams received warm reception and commendations in locations, including from the Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development and the Akinyele Local Government Chairman in Oyo State, and the Special Adviser to the Kwara State Governor on Farmers' Interventions, among others.

In addition to the formation of functional cooperatives with proper governance structures, the training programme also discussed readiness for possible protocol breaches and early warning systems.

Participants who spoke after the lectures said they were delighted at the new insights they gained, pledging to share same with members of their various cooperatives.

NIRSAL Plc is an initiative of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) established to de-risk agriculture and agribusiness financing in Nigeria, with a view to stimulating the flow of finance and investment into the Agricultural Value Chain from multiple sources. Logic for the Imo training exercise is provided by one of the five pillars of NIRSAL—Technical Assistance, under which value chain fixing initiatives are researched, developed, and promoted.