IFAD trains 250 cassava, rice farmers on entrepreneurial skills in Ogun

IN enhancing rice and cassava value chains for sustainable agricultural transformation,  the  International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), in collaboration with the Ogun State government has trained 250 rice and cassava farmers in entrepreneurial skills.

The three-day training had its participants drawn from five local governments of the state which are Obafemi Owode; Ifo; Yewa North; Ijebu North-East and Ijebu East, and was carried out through IFAD- assisted Value Chain Development Programme, with the aim of helping the farmers to increase their income and production.

The theme of the training was “Developing Entrepreneurs in Cassava and Rice value chains for Apexes and other Farmers’ organisations.”

The State Coordinator of the programme, Mr. Samuel Adeogun, said the training was put in place to sensitise the farmers on different aspects of the chain for self- sustainability purpose in terms of adding value to their produce.

He called on the participants to use the enterprenueral skills to see other opportunities in rice and cassava value chain beyond production.

“The primary goal of VCDP is to reduce poverty and enhance sustainable accelerated economic growth.

“Our focus is also to increase the income and food security of farmers engaged in production, processing and marketing of rice and cassava in five local governments of the state.

“The training we are giving you is the best legecy. It will enable value chain farmers to be self sustained.

“Agriculture is now a business and should be handled with business mind. I am looking forward to seeing participants who have developed themselves as employers of labour via agriculture,” he said.