German NGO Budgets N7bn For Rice Farmers’ Training In Nigeria
BY BABA AHMED, MAKURDI – Rice farmers in the country will soon receive a boost as a German Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), Green Innovation Centre for Agriculture and Food Sector (GIAE), says it has earmarked N7billion (about 17million Euros) for their training.
Project Coordinator of GIAE, Ms Caroline Trimborn, who announced this at a three day meeting of stakeholders drawn from Benue, Nasarawa and Cross River states for rice value chain at Benue Hotels, Makurdi, said the fund is to be disbursed through the states’ Agricultural Development Projects (ADP) for the training of farmers between 2017 –2022.
Trimborn said beneficiaries will be trained in various farmers Business Schools (FBS) through the ADP that would be expected to monitor the progress of the scheme and coordinator the exercise.
Speaking earlier, the Permanent Secretary in the Benue State ministry of Agriculture, Mr. Ode Ocheelle, said that about 38,000farmers from Nasarawa, Benue and Cross River have so far been trained and certified in farmers Business School.
Ocheelle, who was represented by the Director of Administration and Supply, Mr. Emmanuel Alexander further said that the intervention by GIZ will further boost the agriculture sector and improve food sufficiency and reduce poverty and hunger.
He also said that the intervention by GIZ will assist Nigeria meet the demand of about 175 million populations for food security.
According to him; “Coordination and cooperation between public, private donors and civil society actors will further strengthen effectiveness, efficiency and impact to scale up technical business innovations”.
