The European Union has trained has no fewer than 5,000 farmers and other stakeholders in the agricultural sector in Imo State on how to leverage modern technological skills and combat the effects of climate change on food production.
The one-day Digital Financial Solutions Training organized with funding by the DIGISOL PROJECT, was designed to equip farmers in the state with improved digital skills and awareness on better ways of advancing agricultural practices as a critical sector of the nation’s economy. Ogun and Kwara states are also benefitting from the training.
Declaring the workshop open, the Project Manager and the Vice-Chancellor of UAES, Prof. Christopher Eze, noted that the training was to build on the previous efforts of the DIGISOL PROJECT towards securing more impact-driven farming activities that benefit the players and the nation.
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Eze, Professor of Agricultural Economics, while appreciating the EU for the intervention and for making the institution the lead partner, described the training as a timely and relevant intervention to assist farmers in overcoming challenges.
He said, “Agriculture has continued to play a vital position in the economic development of Nigeria, but the farmers who are the crucial players in this sector are unfortunately very susceptible to variations of the climate change, leading to losses.
“By adopting digital financial solutions in modern-day farming practices, the farmers would be able to access financial services and platforms more easily, conduct their financial transactions more efficiently, and make informed decisions capable of promoting their farming operations.”
Prof. Eze urged participants to leverage knowledge from digital financial solutions experts, stressing that the training would help them achieve greater output even in the face of climatic issues.
He appreciated Governor Hope Uzodimma for his administration’s unwavering support towards the advancement of the university, noting that through the state government’s enhanced funding, the operations and commitments of the UAES had been sustained effectively.
Story was adapted from the Guardian.