Enugu trains farmers on digital book keeping

The Enugu State Government, through its Ministry of Agriculture and Agro-Industrialisation, has embarked on a transformative two-day capacity-building workshop to empower extension agents, lead farmers, and ministry staff with vital digital skills. The training, hosted at the Enugu State Tech-hub office, focuses on computer literacy, digital record-keeping, and proficiency in Microsoft Office tools. This initiative aligns with Governor Peter Mbah’s e-governance vision to replace manual operations with a more efficient digital approach, ensuring improved productivity and streamlined operations in the agricultural sector.

Commissioner for Agriculture and Agro-Industrialisation, Hon. Patrick Ubru, highlighted the importance of the shift, emphasizing the need for participants to adapt to modern trends in agricultural information management and productivity enhancement. He urged stakeholders to embrace continuous learning regardless of age, stressing that digital skills will be instrumental in this year’s farming season.

Mrs. Madueke Chidinma Emmanuella, Head of Planning, Research, and Statistics at the Ministry, elaborated that the training is designed to equip participants with the skills to gather, analyze, and disseminate agricultural data digitally. This aligns with efforts to prepare stakeholders for e-governance integration and ensure sustainable data management practices.

Permanent Secretary, Mr. Victor Ngwu, affirmed that this transition to digital processes would enhance the speed and accuracy of data collection and analysis, marking a significant milestone in the state’s agricultural strategy.
Source: Vanguard

Expert Review for Agri-Food Stakeholders
The Enugu State Government’s initiative to digitize agricultural operations is a commendable step towards modernizing the sector. The training addresses critical gaps in data management and information dissemination, which are often bottlenecks in achieving agricultural productivity and scalability. By equipping extension agents and farmers with digital tools, the initiative sets the stage for improved decision-making, reduced inefficiencies, and enhanced access to actionable insights.

Key Highlights:

1. Modernized Extension Services: Digital tools will enable extension agents to provide timely and accurate information to farmers, improving advisory services.
2. Enhanced Data Management: Digital record-keeping ensures secure and accessible data storage, enabling long-term analysis for strategic planning.
3. Increased Productivity: Streamlining operations through digital systems can significantly reduce time spent on manual processes, enhancing productivity.

Recommendations

1. Continuous Capacity Building: Regularly update and expand training programs to include emerging technologies like farm management software and remote sensing tools.
2. Infrastructure Development: Invest in robust digital infrastructure, including internet access and digital devices, to ensure the program’s sustainability.
3. Incentivize Adoption: Provide incentives such as subsidized devices or free software to encourage widespread adoption of digital tools among farmers.
4. Monitor and Evaluate: Implement a monitoring system to assess the impact of the training on productivity and refine future initiatives accordingly.
5. Expand Training Reach: Extend similar capacity-building efforts to underserved rural farming communities to bridge the digital divide.