Professor of Agricultural Economics trains agric officers on use of modern statistical tools
A Professor from the Department of Agricultural Economics, Federal University of Technology (FUT), Minna, Professor Joe Madu has called on agricultural officers in Niger to adopt modern statistical tools to enhance food production.
He made the call in Minna during a one-week intensive training programme on ‘R’, an open-source statistical software designed to support data-driven decision-making in agriculture.
Participants for the training were drawn from the Fadama office, Niger State Agricultural Mechanisation Development Agency (NAMDA), the Ministry of Agriculture, and other relevant agencies.
Madu explained that mastering and applying the ‘R’ statistical tool would enhance data management, analysis, and practical deployment in field operations.
According to him, effective use of the software will improve productivity among agricultural workers and contribute to higher food output in the state and across the country.
He said the training aimed to introduce participants to the practical uses of the ‘R’ software in a rapidly evolving, data-driven work environment.
“‘R’ is a powerful and versatile statistical tool used globally, with a large community of users. It’s simple, adaptable, and highly useful for analysing complex agricultural data,” Madu said.
He added that agricultural professionals must stay informed about emerging technologies to remain relevant and responsive in a changing work landscape.
In his remarks, the State Project Coordinator of Fadama NG-CARES, Malam Shehu Kudu, commended Madu for facilitating the training.
He encouraged participants to apply the knowledge gained to improve data handling and analysis in their respective roles.
“Data is a vital component of agricultural service delivery. The generation, organisation, interpretation, and use of data require modern tools to meet the demands of a dynamic world,” he said.
Kudu added that under his leadership, the Fadama office was committed to supporting initiatives aligned with the state government’s food security objectives.
He commended Gov. Mohammed Bago, for extending strong support to the Fadama programme, noting that the state’s agricultural policies were beginning to yield positive results.
Earlier, the Managing Director of NAMDA, Malam Muhammad Alibaba, noted that the training would help officers complete tasks more efficiently and adopt evidence-based approaches to agricultural planning.
“My agency will fully align with this training initiative to ensure that our staff are equipped with modern tools for research and results delivery,” he said.
Alibaba stressed that meaningful change in the agricultural sector required a willingness to embrace innovation.
He reiterated his commitment to ensuring that the knowledge gained from the training would be incorporated into the agency’s day-to-day operations.
