Adamawa Govt, NEPC Train Farmers on Safe Farming, Export Standards

The Adamawa State Government remains committed to supporting farmers and enhancing the quality of agricultural produce in the state, with a focus on boosting productivity and expanding access to both local and international markets. Hon. Joab Haggai Sahma, the State Commissioner for Commerce, Trade and Industry, made this announcement during a capacity-building workshop on Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) and pesticide management for smallholder farmers, held in Numan on Friday.

The workshop, organized by the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) North-East Regional Office, Yola, gathered over 60 farmers and stakeholders from Numan and Demsa Local Government Areas. Speaking at the event, Sahma highlighted the state's support for farmers through agricultural inputs and other interventions aimed at improving livelihoods and strengthening agricultural production.

In collaboration with the NEPC, the state government has facilitated the free registration of potential exporters, enabling them to participate in export-related activities and capitalize on opportunities in international markets. Sahma urged farmers to adopt good agricultural practices and produce commodities that meet safety and quality standards for domestic consumption and export.

Dr. Ben Anani Egon, the NEPC North-East Regional Coordinator, addressed the workshop, emphasizing the training's purpose to equip smallholder farmers with essential knowledge on the safe, responsible, and effective use of pesticides. Egon, representing the NEPC Executive Director, Mrs. Nonye Ayeni, expressed concern over the rejection of Nigerian agricultural exports at border control points due to excessive pesticide residues and contaminants.

The workshop, part of NEPC's pesticide management project under its risk management initiative, aimed to address this issue and enhance the competitiveness of Nigerian agricultural exports.

The training also covered pesticide handling, storage, application, personal safety, environmental protection, and compliance with relevant regulatory standards. Hajara Adamu, a resource person at the workshop, educated participants on Good Agricultural Practices, appropriate pesticide use, and environmentally sustainable farming methods. She urged farmers to apply the knowledge gained and share it with others in their communities.

Participants, including Clara Heman and Ark Audu, praised the training as timely and beneficial, stating it would improve their farming practices and help them take advantage of export opportunities. The workshop concluded with the distribution of agricultural inputs and equipment, such as knapsack sprayers, boots, and other farming tools, to the participants.