The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND), Centre of Excellence for Integrated Farming System of the Federal Polytechnic, Bauchi has trained over 70 staff of the institution in organic farming for self reliance.
Speaking during the flag off of the 5-day training on Tuesday, Dr. Abdullahi Muhammad, Director, TETFUND Centre of Excellence of the polytechnic, said that the training is aimed to help the trainees cope with the current economic conditions and become employers of labour.
Muhammad noted that the training is also aimed to coach the staff of the institution and farmers the importance of organic farming in advanced agricultural production.
He called on the participants to pay closer attention to what would be taught, adding that plans to expand the training for the benefit of the staff and farmers across the northeast subregion are underway.
“This organic farming will protect our environment and soil space against damage through the use of only high chemical farm inputs,” he said.
Declaring the training open, the Rector of the polytechnic, Alhaji Sani Usman, said the training has a lot of benefits attached to it which include health benefits, economic and environmental benefits.
Represented by his Deputy, Dr. Dalhatu Sa'idu, the Rector explained that the centre was instituted by the TEFUND to train people, conduct research and persuade information to address the inadequate food security in the country.
He also urged the Nigerian farmers to use organic methods of farming so as to stop relying on foreign farm inputs which were produced with chemicals that cause damage to the agricultural sector.
He appreciated the Centre and the polytechnic’s management for the support given to the programme and urged the participants to concentrate on the training towards achieving the desired objectives.
In his remarks, Malam Isiyaka Gital, Chairman, Bauchi state House of Assembly Committee on Agriculture, pledged maximum support for the initiative.
He urged the centre to expand the programme to farmers groups in the state for the benefits of the general public.
Gital therefore, called on the participants to cascade the knowledge acquired to their family and colleagues towards the development of agriculture in Bauchi State and the country in general.
One of the trainees, Mr Abubakar Ibrahim promised to leverage on the knowledge that would be acquired from the training to train other farmers for the benefit of a safer environment and enhanced food security in the state.
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