By Florence Adidi
The National Agricultural Development Fund (NADF) has begun a four-day training programme for agricultural extension personnel from the North Central states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), as the Fund rolls out its Grassroots Digital Extension Corps (GDEC) initiative across the country.
The Lafia training is the first in a nationwide series that will be replicated in the country’s five other geopolitical zones.
Participants are expected to undergo intensive sessions on digital extension services, climate-smart agriculture, data collection, farmer advisory services and modern communication techniques before receiving professional certification at the end of the programme.
Speaking at the opening ceremony on behalf of the Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of NADF, Mr. Mohammed Ibrahim, the Head of Policy and Advocacy, Mrs Yejide Olarinde, said strengthening the capacity of extension workers remains central to improving agricultural productivity.
“Agricultural extension remains the critical link between research institutions, government interventions and farming communities. Strengthening the capacity of extension personnel is essential to improving technology adoption, increasing productivity and achieving sustainable food security,” she stated.
According to Olarinde, the nationwide exercise will train 1,110 Extension Agents and 774 Food Security Specialists, creating a pool of professionals equipped to support farmers and improve food security planning.
She said each participant who completes the programme would receive a digital tablet loaded with the approved training curriculum and extension materials.
“These digital tools will ensure that extension personnel have easy access to training materials and can effectively deliver knowledge and advisory services to farmers wherever they are deployed,” she noted.
Also speaking, a representative of the Federal Department of Agricultural Extension (FDAE), Mrs Amao Oluwakemi, described the programme as a timely intervention, noting that a stronger extension system is critical to getting improved technologies into the hands of farmers.
“This training comes at a critical time when strengthening extension services is essential for increasing agricultural productivity and ensuring that innovations developed through research effectively reach farmers at the grassroots,” she said.
The sessions are being facilitated by agricultural extension experts who are leading participants through practical and classroom-based modules on digital extension, climate-smart farming, agricultural innovation, communication, data management and field advisory techniques.
The Lafia exercise is expected to end on Thursday, after which the training will move to other centres across the country as NADF continues the nationwide rollout of the Grassroots Digital Extension Corps programme.
