By Rasheeda Hamidu
The National Agricultural Development Fund (NADF) has commenced the training of 1,884 agricultural extension workers and food security specialists in Lafia, Nasarawa State, to strengthen climate-smart agriculture and improve food security through digital extension services.
The training began on Monday under the Grassroots Digital Extension Corps (GDEC) Initiative, according to the Executive Secretary of NADF, Mohammed Ibrahim.
Represented by the Head of Policy and Advocacy, Yejide Olarinde, Ibrahim said the exercise marked the first phase of a nationwide programme that would be replicated across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.
He said the programme would train 1,110 extension agents and 774 food security specialists to strengthen agricultural advisory services and food security planning.
Ibrahim described agricultural extension workers as the critical link between research institutions, government interventions and farming communities.
He said, “Strengthening the capacity of extension personnel is essential to improving technology adoption, increasing productivity and achieving sustainable food security.”
According to Ibrahim, participants will receive digital tablets preloaded with approved training curricula and extension materials to improve knowledge transfer and advisory services to farmers.
He added that the trainees would undergo intensive sessions on digital extension services, climate-smart agriculture, data collection, farmer advisory services and modern communication techniques before receiving professional certification.
A representative of the Federal Department of Agricultural Extension (FDAE), Amao Oluwakemi, described the initiative as timely, noting that stronger extension systems are essential for delivering improved technologies to farmers.
NatureNews notes that climate-smart agricultural extension services help farmers adapt to climate change, improve resource efficiency and strengthen resilience against extreme weather and other environmental risks.
NatureNews reports that strengthening agricultural extension systems remains critical to improving sustainable food production and enhancing Nigeria’s long-term food security.
