By Umar Akilu Majeri, Dutse
The All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) has trained 300 field agents selected from polling units across all 27 Local Government Areas of Jigawa State.
This initiative is a major data collection exercise aimed at compiling essential information on farmers to facilitate state-level agricultural interventions and capacity building.
The Chairman of AFAN, Engr. Auwalu Garba Ibrahim, disclosed this in a phone interview following the training held yesterday at the Sir Ahmadu Bello Hall.
Engr. Auwalu explained that the 300 agents were tasked with registering farmers for both irrigation and rainy season farming, specifically covering crops like rice, maize, wheat, and other farm produce.
The core objective of this extensive registration drive is to collect personal data from farmers and document the details of their farm land.
The programme, he noted, is a collaborative effort sponsored by Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and the Jigawa State Government, designed to assist farmers with critical interventions and agricultural inputs.
Furthermore, the 300 agents received comprehensive training focused on capacity building and the requirements for exportation of farm produce outside Nigeria. This suggests a strategic move to prepare local farmers for the international market.
The Chairman also detailed the compensation plan for the field agents, explaining that they would receive allowances based on their commitment and the number of farmers successfully registered a “pay-as-you-go” system.
He appealed to farmers across the state to turn out in large numbers to accept the registration and support the agents, ensuring that all members of the association are fully documented.
