NNPC Foundation, the Corporates Social Responsibility (CSR) arm of the NNPCL, has taken the second phase of its Vulnerable Farmers Training Programme to Northern Nigeria.
This was stated in a press release, on Wednesday, by Andy Odeh, the NNPCL Chief Corporate Communications Officer.
The initiative is in continuation of the drive by the Foundation to strengthen Nigeria’s food security, stimulate economic empowerment, and promote national development.
The programme is designed to equip farmers with modern agricultural techniques, covering areas such as climate-smart farming, organic fertilization, post-harvest loss reduction, and enhanced market access strategies.
The second phase will cover North-East, North-West, and North-Central geopolitical zones, with training sessions scheduled to hold in six designated states across the three zones, and one in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.
Recall that the first phase of the programme, held across the Southern region (South-East, South-South, and South-West), empowered over 4,000 farmers with modern agricultural practices and market-access strategies, recording significant success.
Managing Director of NNPC Foundation, Mrs. Emmanuella Arukwe, highlighted the importance of the programme during the official flag-off of the first phase at Nsukka, Enugu State.
She said the initiative aligned with the Federal Government’s agricultural transformation agenda, which seeks to boost food security, increase productivity and improve the livelihoods of smallholder farmers across the country.
”At NNPC Ltd, we recognise that agriculture remains the primary source of livelihood for over 70 per cent of Nigeria’s population.
“Yet, many farmers remain trapped in subsistence-level production due to limited access to modern techniques, quality inputs, and competitive markets.
“This training is designed to change that narrative,” the NNPC Foundation Managing Director stated.
She emphasised that the goal of the training was to equip participants with the tools, knowledge, and resources required to move from subsistence farming to sustainable, commercial-scale agricultural production.