The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, has begun a five-day training on Good Agricultural Practices GAP and Farmers Business School FBS for 60 Irish potato farmers in Katsina State.
The Coordinator, Irish potato value chain in the ministry, Adegoke Adedamola, at the opening of the training in Katsina, said they are targeting 3,000 beneficiaries nationwide.
According to him, the capacity building training was organised because the irish potato is one of the major crops consumed in Nigeria, and 90 per cent of it has been imported.
In her opening remarks, the Director, Federal Department of Agriculture FDA, Karima Babangida, said the training was on re-educating Irish potato farmers on farming as business rather than as a culture.
Babangida was represented by Alhaji Abdullahi Sirajo, desk officer extension, Katsina field office.
She added that it is important to know that GAP/FBS is capable of starting a potato revolution in Katsina that has the capacity to grow potatoes during the dry season.
The Chairman, Irish potato farmers in Katsina, Salele Malumfashi, commended the Federal government’s efforts in ensuring that its members benefited from various interventions.
