Nasir Argungu, director-general, National Directorate of Employment (NDE) has said that Sustainable Agricultural Development Training Scheme (SADTS) is a nation-wide programme geared towards the rural people to boost food production in the country in order to reduce hunger.
Argungu who was represented by Chijioke Uzoatuegwu, state coordinator, NDE Abia chapter, said during the opening and orientation course for the commencement of the training of 50 unemployed persons through the SADTS initiative, that the programme was in line with the vision of President Buhari’s administration to promote agriculture and ensure food security.
He pointed out that there was the need to train people in new agricultural technologies to enhance food production, adding that the Rural Employment Promotion (REP) department of the directorate would through the programme engage the people in more susceptible agricultural training.
He noted that the nation-wide programme was intended to boost the productivity of smallholder farmers in rural communities in order to reduce hunger and improve their livelihood.
Michael Mbata, director of REP department at the National Headquarters said it was important to train people who were interested in agribusiness.
Mbata disclosed that the directorate had an extension service mechanism where the trainees would be monitored to evaluate their progress during and after the training sessions.
He said that the training will last for three months, including two weeks of theory and 10 weeks of practical in crop production and animal husbandry.
Mbata, who was represented by Blessing Owan, said the training would equip them with the technical know-how on basic farming in livestock and crop productions.
Udoka Agwu, Umuahia
