The National Directorate of Employment (NDE) has commenced capacity building of 50 participants in Agricultural Extension Training (AET) in Nasarawa State.
Mr Chris Bamsida, the State Coordinator of NDE stated this at the ongoing of five- day training for the participants in Lafia on Wednesday.
Bamsida said that the training was organised to equip participants with skills on professional use of chemical sprayers, herbicides, insecticides and preservatives in agricultural production.
He said the participants would also acquire requisite knowledge on the use of improved varieties of seeds and seedlings as well as government incentives and interventions.
The state coordinator urged the participants to take the training seriously in their interest and for the overall development of the country.
He urged them to after the training, provide best advice and services to rural farmers in the state.
“This is to enable them become self-reliant, boost agricultural production and for the overall development of the country,” he said.
The NDE Coordinator commended Mallam Abubakar Fikpo, the Director-General of NDE for keying into good policies and programmes that would tackle unemployment in the country.
Bamsida called on the state government, Non-Govermental Organisations and individuals to collaborate with the agency in order to tackle unemployment.
“NDE came into existence on March, 1986. It is charged with the responsibility to design and implement schemes to combat mass unemployment among unemployed youth, women and retired persons,” he said.
Meanwhile, Mrs Fatima Abubakar, a staff with NDE Headquarters Abuja presented a paper on “Agricultural Extension Activities and The Roles of Extension Agents”.
Abubakar emphasised critical roles of extension agents to agricultural production in the country.
“An agricultural extension agent is like a teacher, philosopher, leader, guide and colleague for the community.
“An extension agent or worker is the last link in the chain of extension organisation who lives in the midst of the community to propagate his programme,” she said.
She urged the participants to use the knowledge gained to assist farmers as well as help government develop its agricultural programmes. (NAN).