The Delta State Government has kicked off the training of Area field officers on ICT software tools for data collection organized by the Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources to ensure food security, accountability, and increased productivity in the sector.
Commissioner Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources,Mr. Val Arenyeka, who declared the two-day training open on Tuesday 3rd of March,at Prof. Chike Edozien Secretariat in Asaba the state capital noted the disconnect in timely interface between the Ministry and the Agricultural Extension Officers which led to the training aimed at tackling challenges as improper planning and targets implementation,no soil mapping for farmlands across the state and lack of agricultural mapping in the State.
He said Other challenges were, no standardized classification of types of farmers, their processes, poor data collation,accumulation and depletion of staff strength as well as skills within the Ministry
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mr.Augustine Oghoro, during the training disclosed that the Applied-Tech Management Consultants were invited to undertake the training with the purpose of participants acquiring basic ICT skill in managing Agriculture, integration of ICT in agric-business development, Design, implement and evaluate sustainable ICT components in agricultural projects for the betterment of the state.
Some of the agricultural officers and participants who spoke with newsmen, commended the ministry for the training saying that it will help to educate the participants.
