Niger govt urges agric graduates to join AGAN to dissimulate new agric innovations
By Priscilla Bernard, Minna.
The Niger State Ministry for Agriculture and Rural Development has called on agriculture graduates in the state to join the Agricultura Graduate Association of Nigeria (AGAN) to collectively work towards disseminating it’s new agricultural innovations to farmers across the state to enhance food security..
The Permanent Secretary of the ministry Dr. Mathew Ahmed made the call shortly after signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with (AGAN) in Minna said, the initiative would help improve agricultural productivity and support farmers in the state
Dr. Ahmed noted that through the graduates who would serve as volunteers, farmers would have access to the right information and support when faced with challenges such as pest infections, floods, and market opportunities among others.
According to him, ” We have over four million graduates of agriculture in the state who are graduates of College of Agriculture, Mokwa, Ibrahim Badamasi University, Lapai, Federal College of Fisheries, and Federal college of Forestry all in New Bussa. We are going to locate them and are calling on them to join AGAN, ” he stated.
The perm Sec also explained that collaboration between the ministry and AGAN has the potential to transform the agricultural sector in the state, improving productivity, food security, and the livelihoods of rural farmers.
The state coordinator of AGAN, Mallam Usaini Iliyasu expressed his association’s commitment to working with the ministry to support farmers in the state.
He noted that AGAN has been working with the ministry on various initiatives before now which include provision of extension services and support to rice farmers through grants attracted to the state.
Iliyasu, however, noted that with the signing of the MOU, AGAN will work with the ministry on various projects, which include extension services, data collation of farmers, and small-scale mechanization, irrigation support as well as set up One Structure centers where farmers can access farming inputs
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