NISS Trains South West Farmers On NISSAGRO App 

Farmers and extension workers from the South Western zone of Nigeria has been advised to make use of the upgraded NISSAGRO version 2.0 mobile application to enjoy good productivity in farming.

The South West Zonal Coordinator of the Nigeria Institute of Soil Science ( NISS) Prof. James Alabi Adeniran stated this during a training for farmers, which took place at the Institute of Agriculture Research & Training, (IAR&T), Ibadan, Oyo State.

Prof. Adeniran stated that the programme; tagged “Training The Trainers,” is aimed at enhancing the participation of farmers and extension workers in knowledge-driven information technology that will improve the linkage between scientists and stakeholders in the agricultural sector.

While expressing his satisfaction with the huge turnout of participants, Adeniran disclosed that it is one of the mandates of the NISS to regulate the regulate the soil science profession in the country.

He added that he was happy with the reports of various states that the trainings had been conducted.

Earlier in her welcome address, the executive director of IAR&T, Professor Veronica Obatolu, while charging the participants to make good use of the knowledge they receive at the training, expressed happiness that farming is no longer for illiterates, but that it is being educated fellows, which she said will lead to more productivity.

“No matter how good the seed is the soil the needs to be given solid attention because farming relies on it.

“With the mobile app, we will all be able to be precise and achieve greater heights,” she said.

The Director of Extension in the Oyo State Ministry of Agriculture, Mr. Moruf Razak, in his remarks, lauded the initiative of NISS to boost the knowledge of farmers by promoting mechanised and digital farming.

He however, urged the participants to make the best use of the opportunity given to them, saying that they should ensure that the training is extended to other farmers in their respective zones to complement the efforts of NISS.

One of the farmers and the Chairman of Agric Development Farmers Association and Coordinator of OYSADEP Farmers Field School, Alhaji Salihu Imam thanked NISS for upgrading the Application, which he said will enable the farmers to exchange better ideas to boost food production.

Imam also urged the participants to extend the training to other farmers in the various zones.

The resource person and Head of Inspectorate and Accreditation Department of NISS, Abuja, Nafiu Adewale, who took the participants through the technical use of NISSAGRO, urged them to ensure that the training is transferred to others to improve agricultural productions.

The participants were later evaluated and accessed based on the training, which first step took place three months ago.