No fewer than 1, 000 women and youths are to benefit from a training and empowerment programme on agricultural practices facilitated by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr Yakubu Dogara. Mr Iliya Habila, Senior Special Assistant (SSA) on Media and Publicity to Dogara, disclosed this in a statement in Bauchi on Wednesday.

Habila said the training programme was aimed at empowering women and youths for improved agricultural production. According to him, participants will be drawn from across the 42 wards in Bogoro/Dass/Tafawa Balewa Federal Constituency of Bauchi State, which Dogara represents at the National Assembly.

The SSA said the speaker, who was represented by his Senior Special Assistant on Logistics, Mr Jolly Yakubu, told participants that the programme was part of efforts aimed at enhancing their farming knowledge towards improving crop yield. Yakubu added that the two-day training was also aimed at enhancing the capacity of farmers in modern agricultural practices. He said in the past, similar training programmes facilitated by the speaker had boosted agricultural production in the constituency and state at large. The statement also urged beneficiaries to pay attention to the lectures to be delivered by specialists in various fields of agriculture to enable them benefit from the programme. The aide told participants that the programme would come with some packages, including cash to assist them in farming; and urged them to ensure judicious use of the funds. According to Habila, the participants commended the speaker for sustaining his human development and empowerment programmes for his constituents. They also noted that the incentives that accompanied the training would no doubt motivate them; as well as enhance their efforts at ensuring increased crop yield, he said. (NAN)

SOURCE: DAILY TRUST