No fewer than 500 women and youth have been empowered with skills in vegetable production in selected communities of Ogun State.
This capacity building programme was conducted by the Federal Government of Nigeria through the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security in conjunction with National Horticultural Research Institute (NIHORT) from July 22 to 25 .
Participants were empowered with starter packs including farm inputs such as seed planters, harvesting baskets, rain coats and rain boots.
They were taught improved production techniques for the production of the selected crops – tomato, telfairia and okra as well as the economics of production, marketing and record keeping of these vegetables.
The training focused on capacity building of the selected stakeholders on the production of Tomato, Telfairia and Okra, which are frontline vegetables produced and consumed in all over the country.
In his welcome address, the CEO/Executive Director of NIHORT, Professor Muhammed Lawal Attanda, represented by the Training Coordinator, Hort Consultancy Ventures Limited, Dr Joel Akinfasoye posited that horticulture is an important means of diversifying the economy from a mono-product.
He stated that the vegetable crops selected for this training programme are vegetables that have huge nutritional, medicinal and economic benefits, which are produced and consumed all over the nation and even outside Nigeria. Moreover, the Executive Director/CEO, NIHORT stated that for the participants to benefit maximally from the production of the crops and to contribute to food security, employment generation and wealth creation, adequate capacity building and training on improved production practices is imperative.
The Executive Director implored participants to make the best use of the golden opportunity offered by the training to acquire knowledge and skills required for their progress as individuals and for the nation at large.
The Chairman of all secretaries in Obafemi-Owode Local Government Area, Ogun State, Mr Ashade Enitan Olakunle, who was present at the event, stated that the programme was aimed at improving the production of the selected crops. He enjoined the trainees to make good use of the knowledge gained to improve their welfare and livelihood.
A participant, Pastor Ibironke Olakanmi appreciated the organisers for up the training and noted that he the training to gain more knowledge on the crops. In the same vein, a Mrs Adeosun Deborah, affirmed that she aims to improve her knowledge of tomato, okra and Telfairia production through the capacity building programme and appreciated the opportunity to participate in the empowerment programme.