A four -day capacity-building program sponsored by the Abia State Ministry of Agriculture for the training of Ward Agriculture Coordinators and Extension personnel has commenced at ICAN hall, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, MOUAU, Umudike.
The capacity- building which is being held in collaboration with the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, commenced on Tuesday, October 6, 2026 and will be concluded on Friday, the 9th October, 2026.
It is designed to strengthen grassroots agricultural coordination and equip participants with modern knowledge and practical skills to effectively support farmers and monitor agricultural activities.
The training is also designed to strengthen services at local level and improve the effectiveness of the agricultural coordinators across the seventeen local government areas of Abia State as well as improve production techniques, reducing post-harvest losses, exploring opportunities in value addition and agricultural business.
Standing with the theme
“Strengthening Grassroots Agricultural Coordination for Sustainable Agricultural Development,” , the capacity building is focusing on the roles and responsibilities of Ward Agricultural Coordinators, modern farming practices, pest and disease management, improved crop production, agricultural waste management, value addition and sustainable agribusiness opportunities.
Declaring the training open on behalf of the Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr. Cliff Agbaeze, FCIB, the Acting Head of Department Epidomology department, ministry of Agriculture, Dr. Stephanie Ariwodo, described the programme as both a privilege and a responsibility, urging participants to pay close attention and acquire the knowledge needed to deliver effective results at the grassroots.
The Commissioner said the training was in line with the Agricultural transformation agenda of the administration of Governor Dr. Alex C. Otti, OFR, particularly the commitment to ensuring that government interventions in Agriculture deliver measurable benefits to farmers.
He explained that Ward Agricultural Coordinators are expected to monitor beneficiaries of the State Government’s Farmers’ Inputs Support Programme, verify that farm inputs reach the intended beneficiaries, ascertain their proper utilisation, identify challenges and provide timely feedback to the Ministry for appropriate intervention.
In her address, the Vice Chancellor of MOUAU, Professor Ursula Ngozi Akanwa, represented by the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Research and Development, Professor Princewill Chukwudo, described the training as timely and strategic to the Agricultural development agenda of Abia State.
She noted that effective grassroots coordination was essential to achieving food security, improving farmers’ livelihoods and building a resilient agricultural sector.
Prof. Akanwa identified some of the challenges confronting agriculture to include declining soil fertility, rising input costs, climate variability, inadequate extension services, limited mechanisation and poor market linkages.
She stressed the need for sustainable approaches such as organic agriculture, integrated soil fertility management, biological pest control and climate-smart agriculture, describing Ward Agricultural Coordinators as important frontline partners in agricultural development.
The training features lectures and practical sessions facilitated by experts from MOUAU-ABIC and the Ministry on various aspects of Agricultural development.
The sessions include “Understanding the Role of Ward Coordinators in Agricultural Development”; “The Business of Farming: Issues and Challenges,” delivered by Prof. Manasor Jude; “Waste to Wealth: Conversion of Agricultural Waste Materials into Organic Fertiliser,” by Prof. Ifeoma Oneuka; and “Crop Improvement: Tackling Pests and Diseases for Improved Crop Productivity,” by Prof. Neofia Emeka.
Other sessions focus on “Improved Techniques for Cassava Production,” by Dr. Benjamin Okoye; “Maize and Plantain Cultivation and Value Addition Practices,” by Dr. Aniedi C.; and “Farming Smarter: Turning Government Agricultural Support into Sustainable Farming and Agribusiness Opportunities,” by Prof. Kelechi Igwe.
A session on Agricultural processing and value addition was also delivered by Prof. Onye Uka, Director, Centre for Excellence in Root Crops Research and Development.
The collaboration between the Ministry and MOUAU-ABIC underscores the importance of linking academic knowledge and research with practical grassroots agricultural development.
It would deepen the efforts of the Abia State government increased food production, improved farmer productivity sustainable food security and most importantly, taking Abia farmers from subsistent producers to food exporters.
It will also achieve the present State government’s efforts in exposing Abia farmers to agricultural value chains, wealth creation, drastic reduction of unemployment and poverty.
It would further boost the Abia State economy by activating opportunities in the hinterlands, thereby making the local communities beehive of agro-economic activities.
It further seeks to make Abia youths, including young graduates, to develop more interest in comercial agricultural activities, and in return, make out communities peaceful and free from criminal activities.
Responding on behalf of other participants
Mrs Oluchi Emesiobum
Agricultural Officer and Mr Gabriel John Agric Officer said they have been equipped.
They praised Governor Alex Otti for what his administration is doing in the agriculture sector and praised the Honourable Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr. Cliff Agbaeze and the Permanent Secretary, Mrs Ijeoma Adanma Aguwa (Ph.D).
” The capacity has been built, so much has been learnt . One of the things I have learnt are smart ways of farming to ensure that our ecosystem is preserved while we are still maximizing yield.
” We also learnt different ways of farming, opportunities around us and how to take advantage of of the opportunities” Mrs Favour Oluchi Emesiobum said.
In his explanation about what he learnt, an Agric Officer in the Abia State Ministry of Agriculture, Mr. John Gabriel said
, ” I can actually take this knowledge down to the grassroots to enlighten the farmers how to increase their own their own yield maximally .
” For those our farmers in the communities, we as Ward Facilitators will help them to expand in order to have enough money in their pockets, create wealth through value chains and also appropriate opportunities in agriculture businesses which in return, will take them away from subsistent farming to full comercial farming” said John Gabriel, an Agric Officer wit my the Abia State Ministry of Agriculture.
During the first day of the capacity building on Tuesday, Urban and Rural News observed that experts in agriculture were assembled by the Abia State Ministry of Agriculture and Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, to transfer more knowledge to Ward Facilitators.
It was also observed that about 150 participants, benefited from the training, as the ICAN Hall was filled to brim.
