Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) has trained 600 crop and livestock farmers in rural communities of Benue on alternative feedstock.
The five-day training, which began on February 1 with a refresher training for extension workers were followed by mobilisation of farmers in some communities in Logo, Makurdi, Guma and Kwande Local Government Areas.
The training was sponsored by the United Nations, in collaboration with the Center for Social Change and Economic Development (CSCED).
Mr Idris Gabdo, a consultant with CSCED, an implementing partner of FAO, said that the initiative was designed to teach the participants hydroponics fodder, multi-nutrient block and urea treatment.
Gabdo explained that the three layers of feedstock were aimed at boosting both crop production and animal feed.
He said: “So far, we have achieved more than 50 per cent of our training requirements by handing out our deliverables.
“The training involved stepping-down knowledge of alternative feedstock and value chain, opportunities in the alternative feedstock, feed quality and safety, animal nutrition and feed processing.
“We also had training on three practical step-down skills on hydroponics fodder production, multi nutrients block-making and urea treatment.
“We started the training with 20 extension workers, one absconded during the refresher training, while another absconded during the step-down training.
“But we have some of our extension workers working in more than one community, so, by and large, we have done well.
“We have already sent our interim report to FAO, stating the progress already made from mobilisation to training in rural communities.”
Gabdo said that each of the 20 extension workers was expected to train at least 30 people in each community.
A trainee, Mrs Msughshima Vershima described the training as impactful.
According to Vershima, who rears pigs and sheep, learnt a lot about animal hygiene, urea treatment for animals and new methods of crop production.
The programme, an initiative of the UN, the United Nations Human Rights Commission and the UN Women are aimed at promoting peaceful coexistence between herders and rural farmers.
