Date: 2017-05-05

The Agricultural and Rural Management Training Institute(ARMTI) is poised to boost rural development and reduce poverty through initiatives focused on empowering rural women and youth in agriculture.

ARMTI's Public Relations Officer Mr. Mayowa Gidado said the institute was building the capacities of the rural poor to benefit from rural economies, with particular emphasis on ensuring that women and youth are engaged and empowered in food security.

A statement by the institute said it held a training workshop for men, women and youth on agricultural produce management and marketing last month.

The objectives of the workshop according to the statement, included sensitising farmers on agricultural commodity value chain development, formation and management of formidable commodity-based cooperative societies and possible ways to profitably market agricultural commodities.

The two-day programme, which had a component of field practical, also held in all the geo-political zones. Each state was represented by a number of farmers nominated by the state Fadama office and the Agricultural Development Programme (ADP).

To ensure a proper dissemination of the message of the workshop to large number of farmers, ARMTI decided to mount the programme on state-by-state level where participants were drawn from all the local government areas (LGA).

Last year, the programme was implemented in Oyo and Ogun states on August 29 and 30, and 106 farmers were trained. It was also organised for Kwara and Kogi states on August 31 and September 1 and 93 farmers were trained.

Eighty-eight farmers, including 54 from Imo State and 34 from Abia, were also trained between November 15 and 16, in Owerri, Imo State.

This year, the programme was organised on April 6 and 7 for Gombe and Bauchi State farmers.