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- NIRSAL Plc has trained over 2,000 farmers in Imo, Sokoto, Kwara, and Oyo States, focussing on aquaculture and cassava production to enhance agricultural productivity.
- Imo State workshops covered advanced fish production, while Sokoto concentrated on aquaculture, and Oyo and Kwara State emphasised cassava cultivation.
- The initiative, part of NIRSAL’s Technical Assistance pillar, received praise from local officials and participants, who committed to applying and sharing the new knowledge with their cooperatives.
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NIRSAL Plc Transforms Agriculture: 2,000 Farmers Empowered Across 4 States
NIRSAL Plc has empowered over 2,000 farmers through its midyear training programme across Imo, Sokoto, Kwara, and Oyo States.
The initiative focused on enhancing skills in aquaculture and cassava production to improve agricultural productivity.
In Imo State, 500 participants attended workshops in both urban and rural areas, concentrating on advanced fish production techniques. Similarly, Sokoto State saw a focus on aquaculture, while Oyo and Kwara States emphasised cassava cultivation.
Mr. Uche Agabige, Imo State House Committee Chairman on Agriculture, praised NIRSAL for including Imo in this training round, noting its potential to enhance local agricultural efforts.
Mr. Ibrahim Suleiman, Head of Value Chain Capacity Development at NIRSAL Plc, highlighted that this training was part of the organisation’s Technical Assistance pillar.
He noted that similar programmes were conducted simultaneously in Sokoto, Oyo, and Kwara States, aiming to extend the benefits to approximately 6,000 additional farmers.
The training sessions received positive feedback from various officials, including the Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development in Oyo State and the Special Adviser to the Kwara State Governor on Farmers’ Interventions.
Participants expressed their enthusiasm for the new knowledge gained, promising to share these insights with their cooperatives.
The programme also covered the formation of functional cooperatives and strategies for managing protocol breaches and early warning systems.
NIRSAL Plc, an initiative of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), aims to de-risk agricultural financing and boost investment in Nigeria’s Agricultural Value Chain.
The Imo training exercise reflects NIRSAL’s commitment to its Technical Assistance pillar, focusing on research, development, and promotion of value chain solutions.