The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD) has embarked on training of coconut farmers in Edo on value addition, packaging and quality control.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dr Ernest Umakhihe, Permanent Secretary, FMARD, while declaring the capacity building open in Benin, said President Muhammadu Buhari\u2019s administration was committed to providing support for farmers in the rural areas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Umakhihe, who was represented by Mr Chukwuemeka Ukattah, Deputy Director, FMARD, said the effort was to attain food security, self-sufficiency and improve the livelihood of coconut farmers and processors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He said; \u201cThe government through the ministry decided to create awareness and improve the technical know-how of farmers on the value addition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThrough packaging and quality control, to ensure our products meet international markets standard and demands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThis capacity building is a key element in the strategies aimed at ensuring that coconut farmers and processors do not just adopt good agricultural practices but to ensure their final products are of good standard that will meet global competitiveness.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n