Sahel: June Local Training
The FMARD Capacity Support Project, implemented by Sahel Consulting, held its first local training for selected technical staff of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. The 4-day training themed ‘Leveraging Digital Innovation for Efficiency in Processing and Export’ was held from the 6th – 9th June 2022, at the Hawthorn Suites, Garki-Abuja. The training was attended by 39 participants selected from technical departments in FMARD Headquarters-Abuja, and 9 other state offices including Oyo, Gombe, Plateau, Bauchi, Anambra, Kaduna, Ondo, Sokoto, and Kano.
The training involved interactive lecture sessions, group activities, ICT skills strengthening sessions, and field visits to two local food processing and exporting businesses in Abuja; First Class Refreshment Limited and Cassanovas Nigeria. Participants engaged these stakeholders firsthand to understand their business models challenges.
Participants were taken through robust modules that included Assessing Agri Supply Chains and the Role of Stakeholders as Drivers of Sustainable Export, Easing Export Barriers: Policies and Regulatory Reforms, International Trade Agreements, viable supply chains, The role of FMARD in Shaping policies, building strategic partnerships and the local farmers’ economic profile to drive agricultural export, and Developing Inclusive and Equitable supply chain systems in driving food security and exportation growth in Nigeria – AACE Foods as a case study, among others.
Below were some key takeaways shared by participants from the training program:
- For FMARD and Nigeria in general to maximize outcomes from policies in place, national interest must override personal interest. This would work to ensure that policy summersault does not halt activities or cancel promising initiatives working for the greater good. Also, as a staff of FMARD, one must align their roles to the overall goal of the organization.
- FMARD must be intentional in understanding the effect of global events on the Nigerian food ecosystem. An example is the effect of the Ukraine-Russia war on the price of wheat and subsequently a lot of products in Nigeria.
- State governments in Nigeria have to actively analyze and develop income-generating opportunities. With the support and direction of FMARD, State governments must prioritize certain commodities and provide systems to enhance the production and export of such commodities.
- FMARD must seek out partnerships with other agencies in the export sector for collaboration and synergy so as to make the certification, licensing, and export easier for Nigerian entrepreneurs. In addition to this, FMARD must also be conversant with opportunities in the financial sector to support farmers and entrepreneurs. An example is the RT200 Fx program by CBN which incentivizes the export of proceeded value-added products.
- The diaspora population is not fully utilized by the Nigerian export sector, as this is a vehicle to position and make accessible high-quality Nigerian products around the world.
- Export readiness was identified as a major barrier for Nigerian entrepreneurs. FMARD must be instrumental in creating and adopting a model that shows the private sector what works and where to channel investment into. For example, the creation of a staple commodity processing zones where processing, packaging, certification, and licensing can be done.
For unlimited access to training slides and videos from all of the FMARD Capacity Support training programs please visit the FMARD e-learning portal, and contact the FMARD ICT team for your login details.
Recent Posts
- FG EMPOWERS 250 SMALLHOLDERS FARMERS
- HMS Dr A. S. Abdullahi AIT Town Hall on Cost of Living Crisis
- FG, STAKEHOLDERS IN AGRIC SECTOR RALLY SUPPORT FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF GENDER POLICY
- STATE GOVS PUSH FOR STRATEGY TO AVERT FOOD CRISIS IN STATES
- FG INAUGURATES AGRICULTURAL TECHNICAL WORKING COMMITTEE
Archives
- February 2024
- January 2024
- December 2023
- November 2023
- October 2023
- September 2023
- August 2023
- July 2023
- June 2023
- May 2023
- April 2023
- March 2023
- February 2023
- January 2023
- December 2022
- November 2022
- October 2022
- September 2022
- August 2022
- July 2022
- June 2022
- May 2022
- November 2021
- October 2021
- September 2021
- August 2021
- July 2021
- June 2021
- May 2021
- April 2021
- March 2021
- February 2021
- December 2020
- November 2020
- October 2020
- September 2020
- August 2020
- July 2020
- June 2020
- May 2020
- April 2020
- March 2020
- February 2020
- January 2020
- November 2019
- October 2019
- October 2014
Categories
About Us
FMAFS has the mandate to ensure food security in crop, livestock and fisheries, stimulate agricultural employment and services, promote the production and supply of raw materials to agro industries, provide markets for the products of the industrial sector, generate foreign exchange and aid rural socio-economic development” Read More