NIRSAL Plc has trained over 2,000 farmers and extension agents in Aquaculture and Cassava value chains, during its mid-year training programme in Imo, Sokoto, Kwara and Oyo State. The programme, aimed at boosting farmers’ capacities to access and repay commercial loans.

The programme which is part of NIRSAL strategy to promote the Agro Geo-Cooperative approach to primary production, also primarily targets lead farmers with the experience and skill to share new knowledge with members of their various cooperatives for its training programmes.

While 500 participants were trained in each state, Imo and Sokoto States focused on efficient models for fish production. It was the same in Sokoto State, Oyo and Kwara outings focused on cassava.

Mr. Uche Agabige, Imo State House Committee Chairman on Agriculture, lauded NIRSAL for including Imo in this round of the capacity building programme, with the belief that it would complement local efforts aimed at boosting agricultural productivity in the state.

Head of Value Chain Capacity Development at NIRSAL Plc, Mr. Ibrahim Suleiman, said that the capacity development programme, which is part of the Technical Assistance offered by NIRSAL to agricultural value chain actors under its Technical Assistance pillar, was happening simultaneously in three other states spanning four Geo-political zones.

According to Mr. Suleiman, lead farmers and extension agents in aquaculture and cassava were similarly gathered at two urban and rural locations in Sokoto, Oyo, and Kwara States, and they are expected to retrain the an estimated 6,000 farmers across the states.

The NIRSAL teams received warm reception and commendations in locations, including from the Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development and the Akinyele Local Government Chairman in Oyo State, and the Special Adviser to the Kwara State Governor on Farmers’ Interventions, among others.

In addition to the formation of functional cooperatives with proper governance structures, the training programme also discussed readiness for possible protocol breaches and early warning systems. Participants who spoke after the lectures said that they were delighted at the new insights they gained, pledging to share same with members of their various cooperatives.

NIRSAL Plc is an initiative of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) established to de-risk agriculture and agribusiness financing in Nigeria, with a view to stimulating the flow of finance and investment into the Agricultural Value Chain from multiple sources. Logistics for the Imo training exercise was provided by one of the five pillars of NIRSAL—Technical Assistance, under which value chain fixing initiatives are researched, developed, and promoted.