AProfessor in the Department of Agricultural Economics of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun state, Adeolu Ayanwale, has stressed the need for both the state and federal government to prioritise digital training for farmers which according to him will serve as a solution to food insecurity across the nation.
Professor Ayanwale stated this while speaking at a workshop organised by the Commonwealth of Learning, Canada, in collaboration with Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) and the Agricultural and Rural Management Training Institute (ARMTI).
At the workshop, with the theme ‘Scaling-up Lifelong Learning for Farmers on Digital Agricultural Solution for Vegetables Farmers in Southwest Nigeria towards Achieving the SDG,’ he highlighted the importance of digital training in improving agricultural production and marketing.
He stressed the necessity of teaching farmers how to utilise digital tools throughout various stages of crop production and marketing, including the use of social media platforms like WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.
While citing the current food inflation rate of over 40 percent, he emphasised the urgency of empowering farmers with digital skills to boost productivity and ultimately enhance food security, aligning with Sustainable Development Goal 1 (SDG) of zero hunger.
He said that the programme has already trained over 500 individuals intensively since its inception in March 2023 and that the training aims to equip farmers, especially youth and women, with skills in vegetable production, including nursery operations, agronomy, and digital marketing.
Dr. Olufemi Oladunni, the Executive Director of ARMTI, advised farmers on best practices in fertilization and urged them to adopt eco-friendly farming methods.
He also advised the farmers to make good use of the knowledge they have gotten at the training, especially in the area of spacing in applying fertilizer to their plants.
“What we are trying to do is to develop farmers by capacitating them, so that they can produce more for their immediate family, neighbours and nation at large.
The ARMTI Executive Director further advised them not to apply fertiliser during the rainy season and to grow agro-ecological friendly by making use of organic manure at times rather than regular usage of inorganic fertiliser.
Prof. Kemi Idowu, Kemi Idowu, of the department of Soil Sciences and Land Resources Management, OAU, emphasized the importance of climate-smart agricultural practices and water management techniques, stating that it was observed that farmers had challenges with climate change, especially with management of soil water and fertility.
She thereby, urged the participants to make use of training on methods of water application, nursery management, using plastic pots, shade and low tent shade for raising their seedlings.
Idowu, further said that with the training given to the farmers, they could now identify types of fertilisers and the methods of applying them, adding that they could also prepare their own compost manure.
One of the participants at the training, Opeyemi Olaobaju, expressed gratitude for the workshop and pledged to utilize the knowledge and resources provided effectively.
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