Training for sixty agric extension workers underway

The capacity enhancement programme is being organised by the National Agricultural Research Institutes (NARI) under the auspices of the West African Agricultural Productivity Programs (WAAPP).

In addressing participants at the opening ceremony held at Wellingara Model Horticulture Centre, WAAPP Country Coordinator Sheikh Tijan Sosseh extended warm welcome to the participants for responding positively to their call.

According to him, the good turnout of participants at the training has shown their commitment and dedication in addressing issues affecting farmers.

He said the purpose of this capacity training is to sensitize the extension workers and build their capacity geared towards improving the farmer productivity through advising them to adopt best practices.

Mr Sosseh said extension workers are very instrumental in the implementation of the WAAPP programmes.

He noted that increasing farmers’ yield would require collective responsibility by all actors to ensure the farmers achieve high yield.

WAAPP, he also said, is complementing the seed multiplication centre in the country which GEAPP has already started.

For his part, the director of research at NARI, Dr Lamin Jobe, said it is very important to build the capacity of extension workers who are at the grassroots level dealing with the farmers directly.

He also used the opportunity to urge the participants to actively participate in this five-day training, while much is expected from them at the end of the day.

At the end of the training, they expect participants to also train others in the best practices learnt.