The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has trained 358 farmers and extension workers to improve commodity value chain in Bauchi State.
Mr Daniel Abarshi, the state Director of the ministry, said in Bauchi that the federal government was committed to sustaining improvement in commodity value chain in the sector by tackling the issue of soil fertility, information, input access and production, among others.
According to him, the federal government is working on productivity enhancement for commodity value chain development with partners.
He said that several workshops and capacity building on different agricultural commodities had been conducted in the state.
“The Federal Government reiterated its effort to intensify production and processing across the value chain and meet domestic capacity in the shortest possible time.
“With a focus on closing the demand-supply gaps in the agricultural sub-sector, that if not critically addressed, might contribute to the global food crisis currently affecting the human race,” he said.
The director said the ministry had strengthened agricultural extension services in the communities.
Abarshi explained that an early 2021 workshop was organised for 150 farmers and they were also given farm inputs, including fertiliser, pesticides and seeds.
“Another set of 20 farmers were trained on cassava production, 40 bee farmers and 60 farmers trained on Irish potatoes.
“Eighteen farmers were trained on fishery, 20 on cowpea and 40 on weed production in the state,” he said.
He, however, urged the farmers to engage in planting early seedlings and to always seek advice from the ministry.
