NIRSAL Plc Trains Over 1,000 Extension Agents and Farmers for Bumper Wheat Harvest
By Patience Ikpeme
In a bid to support the Federal Government’s food security agenda, the Nigeria Incentive-Based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL Plc.), an agricultural finance institution, is undertaking a training programme for over 1,000 extension agents and farmers in Jigawa State.
The aim of this initiative is to achieve a bumper wheat harvest this year and contribute to the nation’s food security goals.
This training programme is part of the National Agricultural Growth Scheme and Agro Pocket (NAGS-AP)/Jigawa Wheat Cluster Project, which focuses on five key zones in Jigawa State, namely Kiyawa, Birnin Kudu, Ringim, Hadejia, and Kazaure.
The first phase of the training, known as Group Dynamics, has equipped 355 extension agents and 706 farmer cluster leaders with valuable knowledge and skills.
NIRSAL Plc believes that creating an environment where farmers can efficiently capture value at the farm level is crucial for loan repayment, financial stability, and overall agricultural growth.
According to Mr. Ibrahim Suleiman, leader of the NIRSAL training team, optimizing the value on farms allows farmers to better manage subsequent processes such as value addition and product sales, which in turn, leads to better profit control, equitable sharing, and timely loan repayment.
Recognizing the challenges faced by banks in financing primary agriculture due to inherent risks, NIRSAL Plc has developed models to de-risk this critical segment of the agricultural value chain.
The Managing Director/CEO of NIRSAL Plc, Abbas Umar Masanawa, stated that, “The Federal Government is leading the charge towards food security. We are here to support Jigawa and all other states in achieving this vision, offering our expertise through trainings, database building, and more.”
Masanawa’s commitment to the food security agenda was recently reiterated in a pledge to the Minister of Agriculture, further highlighting NIRSAL’s dedication to capacity building, innovation, and data-driven solutions.
Participants in the training programme are expected to share their acquired knowledge and training materials with their respective clusters, ensuring the widespread dissemination of best practices. This knowledge transfer is vital for the success and long-term impact of the project.
In addition to Group Dynamics, the training programme covers crucial aspects such as geo-cooperative cluster formation, early warning systems, and effective produce aggregation. These topics aim to equip farmers with essential skills for collaboration, risk management, and efficient agricultural practices.
The Jigawa State Government is facilitating collaboration with key stakeholders, including the African Development Bank, Flour Mills of Nigeria Plc, and Super Agro Dealers, who are providing essential inputs. This collaborative approach creates an enabling environment for project success and agricultural transformation.
