The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Foundation has launched an agricultural training programme to empower 1,000 vulnerable farmers in the south-west geopolitical zone.
The training programme, which began on Monday and runs through Wednesday, aims to equip farmers with modern, climate-resilient agricultural skills.
Speaking at the training in Oyo on Monday, Emmanuella Arukwe, the managing director (MD) of NNPC Foundation, said the programme aims to enhance food security.
Represented by Bala David, the executive director of programme development, said the initiative is part of the foundation’s broader efforts to increase productivity and improve the livelihoods of smallholder farmers across the country.
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Arukwe said the intervention will boost productivity and build resilience against climate change, supply chain disruptions, and economic fluctuations.
She said opportunities are trapped in subsistence-level production due to limited access to modern techniques, quality inputs, and competitive markets.
“This training is designed to change that narrative,” Arukwe said.
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“Our goal is to equip every participant with the tools, knowledge, and resources needed to transition from subsistence farming to commercial-scale production.”
Also speaking, Olasunkanmi Olaleye, commissioner for agriculture and rural development in Oyo, said small-scale farmers need training in light of the current global and national challenges affecting food production and security.
Olaleye, who was represented by Olusegun Ezekiel, director of regulation and enforcement at the ministry, said any initiative that aims to equip farmers with the tools, knowledge, and techniques required to thrive in “challenging times” is commendable and aligns with the agricultural transformation agenda of Oyo state.
However, the commissioner expressed reservations that the ministry was not “fully and formally carried along” from the conceptualisation stage through to the execution of the initiative.
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“While we acknowledge the good intentions behind this initiative, it is imperative for development partners and implementing agencies to work collaboratively with state institutions to ensure that programmes are aligned with ongoing state initiatives, avoid duplication, and maximise impact,” he said.
Launched in April, the initiative is intended to train 6,000 vulnerable farmers across the six geopolitical zones in modern, climate-resilient farming techniques, soil and water management, organic fertilisation, and post-harvest loss reduction strategies.
The programme is structured in two phases, with the first phase, which is now completed, comprising the south-east, south-south, and south-west geopolitical zones.
The second phase will focus on the north-central, north-west, and north-east zones.
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