THE African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF), has kickstarted the training of no fewer than 6,000 cassava farmers and processors in good agronomic practices to boost their productivity.
Speaking with journalists during the training which held at Fashola Farm domiciled in Oyo town, Oyo State, Director of Tuber Crops Research, National Root Crops Research Institute, Umudike, Adeyemi Olojede, noted that 6,000 cassava farmers and processors will benefit from the programme with emphasis on the training of women and youths.
He noted that the training will endow them with skills needed to boost their productivity and improve their livelihoods.
The programme is supported by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development and implemented by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit GmbH in collaboration with AATF, Agridrive Limited and Clayuca Corporation.
Olojede said: “This marks the initial phase of the training series, which is expected to span over three years. AATF had previously committed, during the inauguration of the Cassava Mechanisation and Agro-Processing Facility in April 2024, to train 6,000 farmers and processors.
“The initiative will gradually scale up with 1,000 trainees in 2024; 2,000 in 2025, and 3,000 in 2026.
“In addition to the farmers, the programme will include 1,000 processors, primarily women from Oyo and Ogun states, with a focus on value addition in cassava processing. By equipping them with essential skills, the training seeks to improve their livelihoods through better production methods and increased value creation.”
Also speaking, the AATF’s Programme Officer for Agribusiness, Kehinde Jimoh, stressed that the initiative was part of the foundation’s broader commitment to enhancing the productivity of cassava farmers and processors.
“This training is focused on empowering farmers and processors with best agronomic practices and value addition strategies, which will lead to significant improvements in their livelihoods and cassava productivity.”
He noted the importance of the training not only in boosting cassava production but also in enhancing value addition, which will provide farmers with alternative income streams.
One of the beneficiaries of the training, a cassava farmer, Mr Ojo Famoriyo, while speaking with journalists during one of the breakout sessions, said:”I have learnt a lot since the training began. For someone like me, I have benefitted immensely from this training.
“What we are being taught here are new farming methods which are different from the ones we were used to. As a matter of fact, I have applied one of the new things I learnt in the area which has been giving me problems at my farm this morning before coming here and I am really happy and fulfilled.
“There is no doubt about the fact that after this training, our farm yield will increase bountifully. If we have been having this kind of training before now, all the challenges we have been facing in the past would have been surmounted.
“I am using this opportunity to thank the facilitators of this programme for this golden opportunity. I promise to make judicious use of all that I will be taught at this training.”
Another beneficiary, Mrs Alice Olayiwola, a cassava processor, said he is looking forward to receiving financial support to boost her garri production, adding that such support will go a long way in boosting her business.
She commended AATF and its partners for bringing the training to Fashola, urging them to make it a regular feature.
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