As part of its efforts to promote safe use of personal protective equipment (PPE) and products for agronomical practices and stewardship, Bayer Nigeria Limited, in partnership with Sokoto State Agricultural Development Agency, has trained about 250 lead farmers and extension officers on Bayer GAP and Stewardship in Sokoto State.
Speaking at the 3-day training of farmers and extension officers from three senatorial zones of Sokoto, Wurno and Tambuwal, the company’s Area Sales Manager, Mr. Emmanuel Folorunsho, explained that the purpose of the training was greatly achieved as the response from the trainees on the need to build personal protective equipment for their safe use was progressive.
He pointed out that both the farmers and the extension officers are expected to make good use of the knowledge acquired on Bayer GAP and stewardship in their agribusinesses.
Also in his remarks during the opening ceremony, the Director, Agricultural Services of Sokoto State, Mallam Malami Abubakar Magaji, said the training created awareness on areas of agrochemical use and management of farm input which a significant number of the farmers were unaware of.
According to him, the sensitization gave them an insight into proper adoption of good agricultural practices using Bayer Nigeria products as what was formerly used by the farmers had a poor effect on their yields.
Magaji lauded Bayer Nigeria products saying the farmers have been greatly helped with the chemicals given to them, noting that before the training, “most of these farmers have been using products that are not good for their crops, they spend more than 14 days expecting good yields after application only to realize they have wasted their time.”
One of the extension officers, Abubakar Wurno, who also benefited from the training, explained that the trainees responded positively during the training which indicated their readiness to buy the Bayer Nigeria products, praised for its agronomical and pharmaceutical benefits not exclusive to agribusiness owners but all-round users.
He further clarified that the extension officers were responsible for guiding the farmers’ activities, adding that one of the farmers who had used company’s products for eight years and medicinal purposes with satisfactory effect, encouraged the other farmers to use the products.
Kabiru Ruwa, who is married and has three children, is among the lead farmers trained by Bayer Nigeria in Sokoto State.
Ruwa, who has farming as his only source of income generation in the past 17 years majorly for personal consumption, said that the area of the training which covered the use of insecticides for pest control and diseases was of interest to him as his crops this year had poor yield.
While expressing determination to use the Bayer products, he said he bought chemicals for maize, rice, and tomatoes at low prices adding that he is happy he could always reach out to Bayer Nigeria to order more products.
“I am glad Bayer gave us the platform to collectively reach out to them for more purchase, I will call them back to testify to their product value when I start using them,” he said.
