Farmers Laud NNPC Foundation For Climate-smart Training

Farmers who benefitted from the just-concluded Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Foundation training in the South-West have commended it for the initiative aimed at boosting food security.

NAN reported that the farmers gave the commendation at the end of the three-day training yesterday at Ikorodu, Lagos State.

The training centred on strengthening farmers capacity to climate change, improving access to markets, promoting inclusive agriculture and enhancing food production through sustainable techniques.
The training which held from May 28 to May 30 marked the formal conclusion of the first phase of a national journey to attaining resilience, food security and economic empowerment of local farmers.
Mrs Yisa Modupe, the Coordinator of Agbekoya Famers Association in Lagos State, said the training would boost the profitability of its members.

“This training will go a long way to assist our members, because there are many things we run losses, we have been educated on how to operate and adjust to climate change.

“We now know how to manage water resources, like this raining season, we can preserve water in tank and use it to regulate, plant in and out of season and all year round,” she said.

Mr Adande Stephen, a vegetable and maize farmer, said the free training had addressed the challenges of farmers, especially insights on platforms where the products could be marketed.
“This is a first-class training because we have unlearn what we have learnt before and learn new techniques on farming.
“We have been exposed to the Nigeria Export Promotion Council. How we can add value to our products to make more money through distribution and marketing of our products,” Stephen said.
Also, Lydia Fadele, a plantain and cocoa farmer, said she had acquired new knowledge on how to store her products for enhanced profitability.

“What I have learnt in the course of this training cannot be monetised, it was a very rich and loaded training that will bring positive improvement in our farming profession,” she said.

Mr Anuchumba Nwabeke, another beneficiary appealed to the NNPC Foundation to create an enabling environment for the trained farmers by supporting them with grants and loans to further encourage them in the profession.
(NAN)