EXPERTS HARP ON THE IMPORTANCE OF CROP MODELING, DATA SHARING, AND COLLABORATION AS 5-DAY TRAINING ON THE SARRA – H&O MODEL ENDS IN ABUJA

 

By

Francis Benabi

Abuja

It was indeed a result –packed 5-day capacity building workshop as Agricultural experts from English Speaking Countries in Africa resolved to strengthen partnerships, improve collaboration, and review strategies in line with the SARRA-H&O Model to tackle food production across the continent.

This was one of the major benefits of the Workshop organized by the AGRHYMET Regional Centre/CILSS, Niamey in Abuja, Nigeria's capital in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security.

Speaking at the closing ceremony of the workshop held at the auditorium of the Elomaz Hotel, Garki, Abuja, Assistant General Manager, Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMET), Dr. James Adamu, PhD, emphasized the significance of crop modeling and encouraged participants to contribute to the national discussions to enhance the value of their findings in their different countries.

Acknowledging the diverse backgrounds of the participants, Dr. James Adamu who highlighted the importance of collaboration and engagement to ensure food security in Africa urged them not to work in solos, rather they should talk to each other, share data, and ensure that the gains of the training do not end there.

In his closing remarks, the Representative of AGRHYMET/CILSS, Mr. Traore S. Martial, commended the participants for their attention and concentration during the duration of the workshop and tasked them on the need to be abreast with the regional crop production and risk management strategies as applicable to their Countries.

Mr. Martial emphasized the importance of understanding the regional view and interpreting maps to identify risk zones adding that participants should share ideas, and training materials and consult national specialists to solve any emerging issues.

He thanked all the resource persons and other persons who contributed to the success of the workshop.

Two of the participants, Joseph Kailifineh, Acting Deputy Director, Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Sierra Leone, and Esther Ladan Statistician, National Agricultural Extension and Research Liaison Services (NAERLS), Amadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna State, commended AGRHYMET for the training saying that they would utilize the gains of the workshop to improve food security in their countries.

Other participants took time one after the other to appreciate AGRHYMET for supporting the training and urged other development partners to emulate the organization.

“This training is very crucial to food production and security in Africa. Our skills have been sharpened in the areas of regional collaboration, SARRA – H & O Model and its associated models, regional crop production and risk management, the importance of data sharing, and other useful applications.

“We shall endeavor to share knowledge to ensure a positive impact from the training”, he said.

It is important to point out that Over the years,  AGRHYMET has affirmed itself as a regional center of excellence in training of executives from Sahelian countries and elsewhere;  agrometeorological and hydrological monitoring at the regional level; agricultural statistics and crop monitoring; regional databases; - management and dissemination of information on the monitoring of natural resources in the Sahel; - documentation on: agrometeorology, plant protection, environmental monitoring, desertification and natural resource management among other feats.