AfDB trains 733 Nigerians on agro technology

The African Development Bank (AfDB) said it has trained about 733 people in Nigeria on increased use of technology in agriculture.

The AfDB disclosed this in its 2017 Annual Development Effectiveness Review on Thursday in Abuja, saying that the training was part of the Feed Africa project (2016 to 2025) under the high five priority projects of the bank, according to a News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) monitored report.

“In Nigeria, we trained 733 people and provided irrigation pumps and agro-processing equipment. We built or rehabilitated 520km of feeder roads, provided farmers with access to 2300 tones of inputs and delivered increased access to finance,’’ the bank said.

According to the review, the bank’s interventions in agriculture over the last year have benefited 5.6 million people. The report further noted that the bank supported improved water management practices on 37,600 hectares.

“Our feed Africa Strategy (2016 to 2025) is designed to eliminate extreme poverty, end hunger and malnutrition; and make Africa a net food exporter,” the multilateral institution said, adding that it will move Africa to the top of certain agriculture-based, export-oriented global value chains in areas in which it enjoys a comparative advantage.

It said it met its target in assisting 597,900 people to increase their use of technology.

The AfDB also disclosed that it equally made interventions in The Gambia.

“In The Gambia, we improved land and water management practices for over 68,400 people significantly reducing soil erosion, controlling salinity and increasing rice yields above our target,’’ it said.

The bank added there was the increase in yields of a wide range of crops through the assistance to agricultural research networks, training around 17,000 research and extension staff. This, the bank said benefited an estimated 698,000 farmers.