Audu Ogbeh: Minister of agriculture

Richard Elesho/ Lokoja

Fifty rice farmers have been trained in Lokoja, the Kogi State capital on how to get relevant information on rice production using their smartphones as gadget. The training was conducted by the National Cereals Research Institute (NCRI), Badeggi, in collaboration with the federal ministry of agriculture.

The training Program had in attendance,participants drawn from across six rice producing states namely Kogi, Nasarawa, Kano, Ebonyi, Kebbi and Niger.

Acting Executive Director of NCRI, Agboire Samuel, said the gesture was part of policies of the federal government aimed at scaling up rice production in the country to meet both local and export demands.

“The use of the electronic system in the form of information and communication technology (ICT) in agriculture became a welcome idea. The promotion of RiceAdvice which is a decision support tool for rice farmers in Nigeria started at AfricaRice, Cotonou”.

“This tools when used correctly will enhance rice yield and boost farmer’s income thus the living standard of rural dwellers will be enhanced”, he said. He said apart from serving as e-extension tools for farmers in the area of rice production, the smartphones would also serve as employment opportunity for the beneficiaries given the applications embedded in gadgets.

The Director charged the beneficiaries to maximize the training opportunity and the tools to boost rice production, advising that participants should share their knowledge with other farmers in their localities. Speaking at the event, Representative of the Managing Director of Kogi Agricultural Development Programme (ADP), Mr Gabriel Ojogbane lauded the initiative saying it would go a long way in assisting farmers with relevant information on rice farming to boost productivity.

Sent from Yahoo Mail on Android