From Haliru Hamza (Zaria)
The Director, National Agricultural Extension Research and Liason Services (NAERLS), Professor Emmanuel Ikani says it is not possible to fix agriculture without Local Government.
Professor Ikani gave the advice at the closing ceremony of the improved Rice Processing Training for Women Groups in Local Government held at the NAERLS, Zaria.
He advised Local Governments of Kaduna state to consider themselves as family members who want to benefit from the institute’s mandate.
The Director urged them to join hand with the institute to move agriculture together in their respective Local Governments.
According to him, NAERLS is always ready and available to build capacity of their farmers on modern farming technologies.
Professor Emmanuel Ikani called on them to use the privilege they have with the agricultural institute within their domain.
In his remark, the Chairman Association of Local Governments of Nigeria-ALGON, Kaduna State and Chairman Soba Local Government, Alhaji Mahmoud Aliyu Gimba said they would partner with the institute in order to reach out to their rural farmers.
He said NAERLS had role to play in advocating modern farming techniques to the grassroot farmers.
The ALGON Chairman promised to support their farmers directly for the capacity training programmes in the institute.
A participant who responded on behalf of other participants, Madam Hannatu D. Yakubu from Zangon Kataf Local Government commended the efforts of their Chairmen for the opportunity given to them to learn more on how to improve rice processing.
She said during the training they learn a lot and they will go back home to showcase their new rice processing that is more better than the foreign rice.
Five Women groups from three Local Governments completed the training and were given the processing equipments.