Taraba Government partners Thames international Ltd, trains farmers on responsible Agricultural practices
Jethro Yerga, Jalingo
The Taraba State Government in collaboration with a reputable consulting firm in Nigeria, Thames International LTD, has set in motion, pragmatic moves to ensure that agricultural practices in the state are conducted in a manner that is socially responsible, environmentally sustainable, and economically beneficial to both investors and local communities.
A cross section of participants at the Programme
As part of the move, over 200 farmers across the state, have been mobilized and trained on the various ways through which Agricultural practices could be carried out responsibly to ensure sustainable development, food security and resilience to climate change as well as prosperity among farmers that will translate into economic advancement of the state and Nigeria at large.
The two-day intensive training which took place at Shield Hotel, Jalingo, was anchored on the theme ” Enhancing Sustainable Land-based Agricultural Investments Through Inclusive Governance and Community Engagement”.
Speaking at the training, the Thames International LTD Consultant and coordinator of the training, Dr. Bamidele Oyedeji, said the training was part of efforts towards implementing the Framework for Responsible and Inclusive Land-Intensive Agricultural Investments (FRILIA), which forms one of the important criteria for states to access World Bank fund of 750 million naira under the BERAP project.
Dr Bamidele Oyedeji, Thames International Ltd Consultant
The consultant explained that FRILIA Program which has several components, is aimed at providing training on the principles and practices of responsible and inclusive agricultural investments, Creating a platform for dialogue between investors, government officials, and local communities among other things.
He said the program also aimed at enhancing social equity, boosting economic growth and helping farmers in the agro business to enable them have easy access to acquisition of land and the criteria require of them to access arable lands.
Dr Bamidele called on the participants at the training, to make use of the knowledge they acquired at the workshop and boost food production in the state, adding that when they put the knowledge into practice, it would go a long way to reduce importation of food into Nigeria.
Earlier in an opening remark, the Taraba State Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Professor Nicholas Oliver Namesan, disclosed that the Taraba State Government was doing everything possible to improve the well being of the people and ensure availability of food in the state.
The Commissioner who was represented by the Special Adviser to the Governor of Taraba State on Agriculture and Food Security, Hon Hassan Z. Maikasuwa, noted that the Taraba State Government was running away from situations where people degrade lands and leave it without any value.
He stated that the Framework (FILIA), once adopted and implemented by the State Government, would attract responsible agricultural practices that would contribute to sustainable development and improve the well-being of residents and citizens of the state.
In their separate goodwill messages, the representative of the Commissioner for Budget and planning and the chairman, Civil Societies Organization, Dr Joseph Gimba, all stressed the importance of the program and emphasized that it would benefit farmers not only in agriculture but also in other areas of life.
Our reporter gathered that for the two days of the intensive training, several papers were presented by renowned resource persons on critical topics surrounding the theme of the workshop.
Meanwhile, participants at the training, including Bakoji A. Shehu from Lau and Stephen Danladi from Jalingo, all expressed satisfaction with the knowledge they gained at the training and pledged that they would surely put in practice what they learnt, as they returned home.
