Towards effective execution of COVID-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus Project, Ogun State Cares Fadama RA 2 has organised a capacity building and training for facilitators, extension officers and technical assistants covering the 20 Local Government Areas of the State.

Ogun Cares FADAMA RA 2 is an intervention of the State Government in collaboration with Federal Government and the World Bank, aimed at restoring the livelihood of the poor and the vulnerable farmers, maintaining food security by giving grants to beneficiaries and those in agricultural value chain affected by COVID-19 pandemic and targeting to assist over 20,000 farmers across the State within two years.

Declaring the event open in Abeokuta, Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr. Adeola Odedina, said the capacity building was to equip and guide the facilitators and technical assistants to deliver maximally, noting that the future is bright for Ogun State in the area of agriculture and industrialisation, which would lead to food sufficiency, job creation and revenue generation.

Dr. Odedina, represented by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Dr. Dotun Sorunke, implored the participants to imbibe what they were taught for effectiveness and productivity.

"We organised this capacity building programme because we want you all to be transformed and be on the right path, so you don't mislead the farmers. Your work will also involve gathering of information and data capturing, be attentive and make use of every knowledge gained, as you can only give what you know if you learn the right thing”, he said.

Giving the overview of the technical section, the Project Manager, Mrs. Solape Awe harped on the importance of trainings for farmers through extension officers, charging participants to be up-to-date in best agricultural practices and inculcate same to farmers.

She enjoined them to keep abreast of climate smart agriculture, timely delivery and good agronomic practices, as well as quality agro-input and show preference to small holder farmers, women, youths and people living with disabilities.

Responding on behalf of other participants, Mr. Oluwafemi Fagbenro from Imeko-Afon Local Government said the capacity building was apt, as it had saddled them with more knowledge and skills that would enable them get the farmers' profile for disbursement, appreciating the Project Manager for organising the training.

Trainings were given during the technical session by different Project Implementation Officers on Criteria for Beneficiary Selection, Profiling and Mapping, Environment Issues, among others.

Meanwhile, the Project Manager and her team in the past few months had taken sensitisation programme to virtually all the Local Government Areas of the State, aiming to start the pilot scheme of the project in Obafemi-Owode, Odogbolu, Ijebu-North, Yewa-South, Odeda and Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government Areas.