Nigerian Experts, Four Other West African Countries Train On Improvement Models Of Agriculture

The AGRHYMET Regional Centre, in collaboration with Partners and the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, has organised a 5-day workshop for experts from English-speaking countries on the SARRA-H&O Model in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, raising hopes for increased yield, proper food production coordination, and the sharing of experience among regional actors in agriculture.

It is worth noting that the AGRHYMET Regional Centre was founded in 1974 as a specialised institute of the Permanent Inter-State Committee for Drought Control in the Sahel (CILSS in French). This is a public inter-state institution headquartered in Niamey, Niger, with the mission of strengthening food security and increasing agricultural production in member countries. It also contributes to improved natural resource management in the Sahel region by providing agricultural training and information to stakeholders and development partners.

Marshall Trawere, an AGRHYMET representative, stated at the workshop’s opening that the training was the fourth annual capacity-building programme strategically organised to improve countries’ monitoring of the agricultural campaign.

He stated: “This workshop brings together five English-speaking countries: Gambia, Liberia, Nigeria, and Sierra Leone.

“As you are aware, since 1973, Sahelian countries have experienced accelerated degradation of the environment and natural resources as a result of the cumulative effects of recurring drought, desertification, and human activity. This situation has resulted in a significant reduction in productive capacity, exposing the population to a precarious food situation.

“Thus, CILSS, through the AGRHYMET Regional Centre and with the support of technical and financial partners, assists countries in the implementation and technical animation of early warning devices that provide regular and timely information essential for decision-making to anticipate food and nutrition crises. Among the arrangements for retaining the multidisciplinary working groups (GTP), there is an early warning system to identify areas and populations at risk of food and nutrition insecurity.

“As you are aware, national agricultural products serve as microeconomic, social, and existential aggregates for countries and regions, as well as indicators of food safety and stability. This data enables regional and national decision-makers to develop policies and strategies for self-sufficiency and food sovereignty. This is why it is critical for our national actors in charge of producing food and nutrition security information to have tools that will allow them to achieve these goals.

“This capacity-building training workshop on the SARRA-H&O model for crop yield monitoring and estimation is consistent with our institution’s mission. Its primary goal is to share experiences with the national framework in the areas of agricultural campaign monitoring using an agronomic model, hydrological monitoring, water balance and crop yield forecasting, and pastoral monitoring.

“The SARRA-H&O model, a relatively dynamic agronomic model, is currently at the forefront of production estimation models. For several decades, CIRAD and the AGRHYMET Regional Centre collaborated on its development. The model is being updated to include other crops important to the region, such as rain-fed rice, cowpea, groundnut, and tubers,” he stated.

The AGRHYMET representative thanked partners such as CILSS (NPFS) and USAID through PRASSAR for their support of the organisation.

Mr. Amu Anthony from the Department of National Programme on Food Security also spoke, highlighting various efforts and strategic initiatives undertaken by the current administration in Nigeria to ensure national food security and calling for concerted efforts in the use of modern tools and stakeholder collaboration.

In the same vein, Prof. Charles Anosike, Director General and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET), who was represented by Dr. James Adamu, emphasised the importance of the workshop and encouraged participants to use the skills learnt at the training to improve food security in their respective countries and agencies.

A diverse group of workshop participants praised AGRYMET and its partners for the training and promised to use the knowledge gained wisely to create the desired positive shit in food production in their respective countries.