No fewer than 60 extension workers have been trained by the Women Farmers Advancement Network (WOFAN) on the use of drones and other modern agricultural technologies.

Speaking with newsmen on the sideline of the programme, the Executive Director of WOFAN, Hajiya Salamatu Garba, said the trained extension workers who were selected from four states in Nigeria, would go-ahead to engage hundreds of farmers on modern farm technology.

“We invited 60 extension workers from four states in Nigeria to train them on ICT-led technology in agriculture and specifically we are looking at the use of what we call RiceAdvice.

“RiceAdvice is an application that farmers can use and the extension workers, to advice farmers efficiently to be able to give them adequate information, because once the farmers don’t get the right information that they require then it means they are misguided and again because we’re increasing production, it means that we have to change our ways of doing things,” she said.

On the use of technical farm equipment, she added that the extension workers will train farmers on the “use of drones in increasing productivity, advancing farmers and capturing data”.

According to the WOFAN boss, the training will also include investment in insurance and how to secure real-time information on climate change and weather forecast to help farmers make prompt and accurate decisions on-farm activities.

“We also brought in insurance people so that they will give us the necessary products that they have that go in line with climate shock.

“Last year, you know that a lot of farmers faced flood issues and some faced drought, so now if any of the farmers, unfortunately, find themselves in that situation, what will the insurance company do?

“So we are going into a partnership with them, we will sign a Memorandum of Understanding to make sure that farmers meet up with their requirements, and if anything happens they will also be there to address the situation for the farmers,” she explained.

SOURCE: AGRONIGERIA