ABUJA, 12 APRIL 2023-In an effort to improve the skills of extension workers on Good Agronomy Practices (GAP), the Women Farmers Advancement Network (WOFAN) in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation organized a 2-day Training of Trainers (ToT) workshop for 60 Extension Workers. The training aligns with the Integrated Community-led Network of Hope (ICON2) objectives and was attended by participants from FCT, Nasarawa, Benue, and Southern Kaduna State.
The primary objective of the workshop was to equip the Extension Workers with the necessary knowledge and skills for GAP to improve food production in Nigeria. The trainers provided detailed explanations on the different stages of growth in rice crops, land preparation, nursery bed creation, seed treatment, fertilizer application, weed control, and pest and disease management. Also, methods of seed treatment were discussed as a precautionary measure to identify the percentage of seeds that are viable, as well as protect the seeds against nematodes and other harmful pests and diseases that could cause damage.
“With this training, I have learnt how to grow major crops like rice, from land preparation to harvesting. This training has further empowered me to deliver all I have learned to Community Partners,” expressed Miss Ella Adamu, an Extension Worker from Kaduna.
The Founder and Executive Director of WOFAN, Hajia Dr Salamatu Garba, emphasized that the objective of the training was to train super trainers on GAP for a step-down to 7,500 cooperatives across the project states. The step-down will commence immediately after the training, and the exercise will be monitored through the Commcare application.
“Through this workshop and many like it, WOFAN is taking strategic and intentional steps towards improving food security in Nigeria and empowering women, youths and less privileged members of society with the necessary knowledge and skills to promote good agronomy practices,” she emphasized.
The ICON 2 project, which is funded by the Mastercard Foundation, aims to support 675,000 young people across 10 Nigerian states over a period of 5 years. This initiative aligns with the Mastercard Foundation’s Young Africa Works-Nigeria (2021-2030) strategy, which seeks to enable 10 million young Nigerians, including 7 million young women, to secure dignified and fulfilling employment.
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About WOFAN
The Women Farmers Advancement Network (WOFAN) is a Nigerian non-governmental organization established to improve and promote the economic, social, and political empowerment of rural women and youth in Nigeria.
About Mastercard Foundation
The Mastercard Foundation works with visionary organizations to enable young people in Africa to access dignified and fulfilling work.