By Ojugbele Omotunde
The South-Saharan Social Development Organisation (SSDO), an NGO, has trained 90 rural farmers on agro-ecology to promote climate-friendly farming in Enugu State.
This was stated by Mr. Udochukwu Egwim, the organization’s head of programs, on Tuesday, January 16, 2024, at a training session in Amagu Oduma, the state’s Aninri Local Government Area.
An instructional workshop on contemporary farming methods that are climate-friendly was financed by the Nigeria Conservation Foundation. It was recommended that the trainees from Eke and Amagu Oduma use organic fertilizers, such as animal dung and dried leaves, rather than toxic inorganic fertilizers.
Two communities, Eke and Amagu Oduma, are hosting an agro-ecology workshop, which is being funded by the Nigeria Conservation Foundation. The training program intends to teach farmers about contemporary, climate-friendly farming practices, like switching to organic fertilizer from inorganic.
The head of the organization’s program indicates that farmers will receive improved palm seedlings as a means of practicing the instruction. Together with improving seedling procurement, the organization will connect farmers with the State Ministry of Agriculture, which will boost yields and save time.
To assist farmers in making the move from subsistence to larger-scale farming, the government also offers government loans and other programs, some of which are supported by the World Bank and other organizations.
Deputy Director of the Ministry of Agriculture’s Agric Department Mrs. Celestina Aga emphasized the negative impacts of inorganic fertilizer on human consumption.
Aga complimented the SSDO for teaching farmers and underlined their role in fostering a climate-friendly environment.
She urged people to switch from subsistence to commercial farming by making use of the grants and loans that were available.
Improved palm seedlings were also distributed as part of the ceremony.