Enugu decries inadequate agric extension workers

Programme Manager, Enugu State Agricultural Development Programme (ENADEP),Mr Boniface Eze, has decried inadequate number of agriculture extension workers in the state.

Eze in Enugu said that the programme had not expanded much because of lack of enough extension workers.

He said that inadequate number of extension workers was affecting ENADEP from developing and promoting agriculture, especially in rural communities.

He said that it was regrettable that, of 365 extension workers needed, the state had only 24.

“The inadequacy has also created a gap between the agency and farmers in the area of information sharing on contemporary system of farming,’’ Eze said.

He said that ENADEP had participated in Research Extension Farmers Information Linkage System (REFILS) which was a national programme for the development of agriculture.

According to him, scientists in the agency were usually sent on trainings organised by REFILS, after which they would educate workers to be better prepared on how to interface with farmers.

The Programme Manager said that aside the REFILS trainings, the agency benefited from trainings organised by its local and international partners.

Eze added that the State Ministry of Agriculture was training some farmers on rice farming.

He further said that the State Governor Peter Mba promised to invest in the agriculture sector to make Enugu State a food hub in the South-East Geopolitical Zone.