Dike Onwuamaeze
The Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation (TAAT), in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security and other national and development partners, last week convened a “National Training Workshop for Extension Master Trainers” at the Manpower Development Centre in Dutse, Jigawa State.
Themed, “Empowering Extension to Scale Ag Innovations,” the training brought together 100 participants, comprising master trainers and subject matter specialists from Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto and Zamfara States.
The participants were drawn from public and private sector agricultural organisations and are expected to play a key role in cascading knowledge and technologies to frontline extension personnel and farming communities.
The workshop utilised the expertise of the TAAT Maize, Rice and Wheat Compacts, led respectively by the African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF), AfricaRice Centre and The International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA).
The training exposed participants to wider TAAT approaches and innovations relevant to climate-resilient and sustainable agricultural production.
The Head of the TAAT Clearinghouse, Dr. Solomon Gizaw, said: “By investing in the people who translate agricultural innovations from research and technology platforms into farming communities, TAAT and its partners are strengthening the foundations of Nigeria’s agricultural transformation.”