The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD) in collaboration with National Agricultural Extension and Research Liason Services (NAERLS) has organised training for extension workers on rice, palm oil, goat, sheep and modern extension delivery services to achieve food sufficiency.

Declaring the event open in Abeokuta, the State Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr. Adeola Odedina acknowledged that FMARD at various times had put measures in place to bridge the gap between dwindling extension services to farmers and food supply to the nation, adding that the present administration in the State had employed over 100 extension officers to augment the existing ones.

Represented by the Permanent Secretary in his Ministry, Dr. Dotun Sorunke, Odedina said it was high time the workers became more knowledgeable in current agricultural best practices, to enable them to impart productively to farmers in their various communities.

He charged them to imbibe the ongoing reforms in the State, part of which was the Farmers' Digital Registration and Agricultural Land Allocation Management Portal, which would enable an electronic database of farmers in the State, as well as electronic application and allocation of farmlands.

"Knowledge they say is power, you can't impart others if you don’t have the skill. So, pay attention to whatever you are learning and support the reforms being put in place by the State government, part of which is electronic database of farmers and agricultural land allocation management portal. Some of you will be co-opted to be part of it because you are the closest to the farmers and you know the terrain", he said.

In his address, the Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Muhammad Abubakar, represented by the State Director, FMARD, Engr. Ganiyu Oseni, said the training was going on concurrently in all the 36 States of the country, including the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, noting that extension services had declined over the years and should be revived to boost the nation's economy.

Abubakar hinted that the training was the third in the series aimed at empowering extension officers with the knowledge that would enhance their service delivery to the local farmers and make the youth interested in agricultural entrepreneurship, adding that the Federal Government desired the availability of adequate food supply for the people to aid foreign earnings.

Responding, a participant, Mr. Fayomi Kolawole, covering Ikenne and Remo-North Local Government Areas, expressed delight at the knowledge gained during the training, promising to extend the same to farmers and other extension workers.