Synergos to assist farmers move from subsistence to core agribusiness
NAN-AE-4
Farmers
By Kudirat Ogunyemi
Abuja, Nov. 7, 2016 (NAN) The Synergos Nigeria says it will upgrade farmers from subsistence level to core agribusiness through its project called State Partnership for Agriculture (SPA).
Mr Victor Adejor, Project Leader, Kogi, gave the assurance in Abuja on Monday during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
He expressed the hope that the success of its last workshop on visual facilitation would help farmers to increase their agricultural activities.
He said that project which started with three states of Kaduna, Benue and Kogi, would impact and increase the earnings of rural dwellers.
“The project will be a success because it is basically on converting waste to wealth by turning the cassava peels, which had be wasted in the past to livestock feed.
“The life of farmers will be changed by increasing their productivity, standard of living, job creation and it will serve as poverty reduction projects.
“Our farmers will not just produce, for only family consumption alone, but for commercial purposes which will make them see agriculture as real business and embrace more youths to participants, “ he said.
He added that Synergos has enhanced the capacity building of its facilitators on graphic, map, chart and pictures to communicate with the farmers in a simple manner.
“We have acquired the knowledge and skills that will help us organise, facilitate meeting, partnership and collaboration with state governments, private sector and any organisation in the country.
“We have been able to come out clearly to know who the key stakeholders that are ready to share our vision of moving farmers from subsistence farming to agribusiness.
“The project will continue training stakeholders as well as policy development, gender balance in the allocation of the resources among others,“ he stated.
Mr Michael Agon, Project Leader, Benue, said that Synergos has drafted work plans which comprise farmers’challenges, success story and ways to change farmers` conditions of living for better.
“The project will identify satellite clusters to supply raw material, support them to run as business and influence policy on land tenure system.
“We are going to do everything according to the Synergos goals which is capacity building for both farmers and stakeholders in those three states.
“We have prototype which is the use of cassava peels for livestock feed and encourage our farmers in producing healthy livestock, “ Agon added.
He promised farmers under its project that Synergos would make sure they have access to inputs, land, bush clearing and funds, to increase their activities. (NAN)
ROK/MOL/AFA
Edited by Mustapha Lamidi/Felix Ajide
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