The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD) has trained Youth and Women in Kogi State on Yam Processing, Packaging, Value Addition and Utilization in the North West, North East and North Central Regions of the Country.
Representative of FMARD at the Training, Jibrin Salah Muhammed, commended Farmers in Kogi State for their resilience at making mark in the Agricultural sector Nationwide.
Muhammed said the Training was important to Farmers in the chosen regions following the losses incurred by yam farmers in the past due to lack of proper processing, packaging and low value addition to their produce.
With the Training, he said Farmers who put the lessons learnt to practice will have more value for their Yam Produce, explaining that gone were the days where farmers only boil, pound yams, among other common means of consumption and commercial purposes.
The FMARD Representative assured of the commitment of the Ministry at helping farmers in Kogi State to take their produce to the next level, calling on beneficiaries to reciprocate FMARD’s gesture by putting into practice, lessons learnt.
The Managing Director, Kogi State Agricultural Development Project – ADP, Prince George Ogirima Bello, commended FMARD for finding the Confluence State worthy to be among the benefiting States in the Nation.
Prince George Bello said the importance of processing and good packaging of yam produce cannot be overemphasized, pointing out that the Training will go a long way at broadening the horizon of farmers and also help them think outside the box at adding value to their yam Produce.
The Kogi ADP Boss commended the State Government for her commitment to the growth of the Sector in the State and advised the beneficiaries to take the knowledge gained at the Training to others at the grassroots.
Some Beneficiaries, Achimugu Patience Ojone and Dauda Abdulrahaman Musa, both appreciated FMARD for the initiative, describing the Training as an eye opener.
Achimugu Patience said the Training has afforded her opportunity to learn better method of preserving Yam, stressing that she will put to practice the knowledge gained at the Training.
While Dauda explained that it was his first time of hearing of YAM PEPPER SOUP which was explained to be common among the Igbos, he said he will introduce it in his Area, Kogi Local Government Area to attract attention and generate income from it.
On his part, a Resource Person at the Training, Obamiyi Samuel Ola, said Farmers requires empowerment by the Federal, State, Local Governments and efforts from Organizations and well-to-do individuals, saying that not all farmers can purchase some of the equipments needed for processing and packaging of yam produce.
While commending FMARD for putting up the Training, Obamiyi enjoined beneficiaries to remain committed to their work, adding that the Training has created avenue for them to earn better from their yam produce.
