The European Union, in collaboration with the University of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Umuagwo, has trained Imo farmers on digital solutions for sustainable agriculture.
The training took place Wednesday at the university campus, Umuagwo, near Owerri.
In a speech, the National Programme Coordinator of the Digisol project, Prof. Chris Emenyonu, said the two-day certificate training was aimed at promoting digital solutions for rural farmers to adapt to climate change.
Emenyonu said that the training, attended by five farmers from each of the predominantly agro areas of Obowo, Ngor-Okpala and Nwangele council areas of the state would be replicated in Kwara and Ogun.
“We have designed a veritable, sustainable, digital platform for farmers’ use with the aim of making farmers active by application of relevant technology,” he said.
Also, the Team Leader of the Digisol project, Mr Chris Adinayo, thanked the EU delegation in Nigeria for its “generosity.”
Adinayo expressed the hope that with adequate manpower and technical expertise, the project would be successful in the country.
According to him, the training would afford farmers the knowledge of alternative sources of livelihood when faced with climate challenges, such as drought and others, whilst waiting for their farms to recover.
Earlier in a remark, the Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof. Chiedozie Eze, thanked EU for thinking toward the institution.
Eze, an expert in agricultural economics, further said that with the training, farmers would be able to boast of more sustainable production for the greater good of Imo and Nigeria at large.
“After this training, our farmers will go home with smart agro practices, how to treat crop diseases as well as the knowledge of agriculture bookkeeping and how to keep trading accounts,“ he said.
Certificates were later issued to the participants.
