The Livelihood Improvement Family Enterprises NIGER- DELTA (LIFE-ND) Project in Abia State has held a 2-day workshop on partnership support training aimed at creating a partnership with the Abia State Agricultural Development Program (ADP) and other agriculture stakeholders on extension services delivery.
The event was held on Wednesday and Thursday in Umuahia, Abia State. The event was aimed at impacting and improving the knowledge of farmers and beneficiaries of LIFE-ND project in the state.
The well attended event which had experts from the agriculture field encouraged and added value to the idea of Abia LIFE-ND in sharing and improving knowledge on modern day methods of farming for the improvement of crops and animals within the state and country.
According to the Abia State LIFE-ND State Project Coordinator (SPC) Dr. Uchenna Rowland Onyeizu, while addressing newsmen said the event is one of the LIFE-ND projects, aimed at engaging and encouraging farmers and partners of the LIFE-ND Project. Dr. Onyeizu revealed that the project is taking advantage of the reach of ADP extension agents to the farmers in terms of extension services for efficient delivery of the LIFE-ND Project to the farmers in various communities where the LIFE-ND Project is intervening.
Dr. Onyeizu added that for the course of the workshop, the LIFE-ND Project has engaged some agriculture extension experts to come and refresh their minds in agriculture knowledge. He also added that part of the plan is for the agro extension experts to help LIFE-ND address some pressing challenges faced by LIFE-ND Project as they resurface.
“We are working to ensure that our farmers get the right information with regards to weather, inputs and managing their farms. Their role is to bring updated information on farm practices to our farmers and beneficiaries of LIFE-ND project in the state to enable increased productivity and agro standards”. Dr. Onyeizu said.
According to Mr. Nleanya Okoro, the programs Manager, Abia ADP while addressing newsmen about the workshop expressed excitement to be part of the event as he said the gathering will further equip the ADP extension agents on their services to the farmers.
Okoro added that the effect of the workshop is that there will be an increase in farmers productivity and Livelihood.
While applauding the initiative of Abia LIFE-ND for organizing the workshop for ADP extension agents, he also gave credit to Abia LIFE-ND management for having the knowledge that ADP in Abia State is the body fully charged with the responsibility of improved and improving technology to farmers.
He added that the partnership with LIFE-ND is aimed at reaching famers in the grassroot and the beneficiaries of LIFE-ND project in Abia State.
Mrs. Nwugo Ihediwa a resource person for the workshop, spoke on Climate Smart Agriculture and Climate Resilient agriculture. She explained that the effect of climate change has warranted new innovation to mitigate the effect of climate change in the farming method.
Mrs. Nwugo in her delivery also encouraged extension agents to teach farmers the need to diversify their family methods, that is, by cultivating multiple crops to have options in harvest as well as rearing other breeds of animals that are not prone to common farm diseases, in order to have increased harvest and productivity.
One of the participants of Mr. Marizu Alwell a private agro extension agent expressed satisfaction on the knowledge gained during the course of the workshop as it has improved his knowledge on climate smart farming and how to process and preserve farm produce. He added that the goal is to pass the information to the farmers and beneficiaries of LIFE-ND project in Abia State.
“When there is a new way of producing crops, extension agents are saddle with the responsibility of knowing it and testing the technology and LIFE-ND is bridging that gap to bring productivity to farmers and Beneficiaries of LIFE-ND project. Allwell said.
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