ibironkeeniola 
The Federal Ministry of Agriculture has created a helpline center for national farmers across the six geo-political zones in the country to improve agricultural productivity and also help to sustain the agricultural development process in the country.
Dr. Mohammed Umar, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry was represented by the Ministry’s Director in charge of Gombe State, Dr. Musa Mohammad in an advocacy, sensitization and awareness drive for farmers in the Northeast.
Mohammad disclosed that the National Farmers Helpline was established as a form of the concept of the pluralist extension delivery approaches due to the high extension agent deficit to farm family ratio.
The helpline center is most effective in bridging the gap experienced in the current conventional agriculture extension delivery system in the country, Umar said.
He said, “Because it involves the use of Information Communications Technology (ICT) and it will have a greater penetration to cover a wide area and the target beneficiary in every aspect of agriculture. “It was established the centers to facilitate efficient and effective agricultural extension services to farmers through the dissemination of good agronomic practice electronically, using the latest ICT.”
This will help to strengthen the partnership that will drive the national agricultural extension service delivery system in the country, he added.
Dr. Mohammed Umar said further stated l that the centers would help disseminate and deliver improved technology, market leakages, and other agricultural information and advisory services to farmers to complement traditional extension agents/farmers interface.
SOURCE: AGRONIGERIA