The Regional Agricultural Directorate in Sapuon Thursday began a five-day training of trainers’ workshop for agricultural extension workers on livestock and horticultural development, at Sapu Agriculture Station in Lower Fulladu west, Central River Region (CRR).  The extension workers would afterwardsconduct a step-down training for farmers at grassroots level, to enhance food security.

In hisopening remarks, the regional Agricultural director Habib Touray said livestock and horticulture play a key role in the attainment of food self sufficiency in the region.“To achieve food self sufficiency, there is a need to assist the small scale farmers to improve their production and productivity,” he noted, and added that livestock and horticulture are sources of income for small farmers. He also made reference to local poultry as a source of income and diet, likewise the small ruminants such as sheep and goats.

Touray alluded that the livestock component can be linked to horticulture component by using the by-product asmanure, which will reduce the high cost of chemical fertilizer.

For his part, the regional governor, Alhaji Ganyie Touray, commended the regional Agricultural directorate in CRR south for their efforts in the attainment of food self sufficiency in the region. According to him, small ruminants serve as social banking for rural people; that equipping them with the skills and knowledge on livestock and horticultural development will go a long way towards improving their production and productivity. He urged the extension workers to put into practice the skills and techniques acquired during the course of the training.

Speaking on behalf of the project director of livestock and horticultural development, the horticultural specialist, Ousman Jarjue, spoke at length on the importance of the training, saying that the extension workers are dealing with the farmers directly. He said the aim of the training is for the attainment of food self sufficiency and also to improve the living condition of the farming community. Jarjue therefore called on the participants to take up the training seriously in order for them to conduct an effective step-down training for farmers.

Deputising for the director general of Agricultural Services, the regional director of Agriculture in the CRR north, Musa Huma underscored the importance of the training, citing that the topics to be discussed are very crucial. He said vegetable, fruit production, pest, disease management, vegetable and fruit processing and preservation are key in the improvement of production and productivity.