Bayelsa rural farmers tasked on agriculture

Rural farmers in Bayelsa state have been advised to embrace agricultural best practices to improve their yields and income.
The advice was given by Foster Ogola, a People’s Democratic Party senator, who represents Bayelsa West, on Friday at Sagbama Local Government Area, while declaring open a two-day training on farm set-up for plantain cultivation and value addition for rural farmers.
According to him, “agriculture is a serious business and this is part of my empowerment initiatives for my constituents.”
He urged the farmers to tap into the opportunities that abound in commercial agriculture.
Ogola represented by his legal adviser, Afini Egbegi, said that the objectives of the workshop were to teach the rural farmers on improved new skills and agricultural best practices.
“This programme is expected to educate our rural farmers and give them the opportunities to acquire new skills that are obtainable in plantain and fish farming to better their lives,” he said.
The Executive Director, Nigeria Stored Products Research Institute (NSPRI), Olufemi Peters, commended the senator for his foresight and initiative in sponsoring the workshop.
He said the training was expected to examine ways to minimise food losses and explore alternative uses of food through value addition.
According to Peters, the training will contribute to national food security and increase livelihood of rural people.