The Federal Government has completed a specialised training programme on the application of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and modern agricultural practices for 40 women farmers nationwide.

Director-General of the Maryam Babangida National Centre for Women Development (MBNCWD), Dr. Asabe Vilita-Bashir, who disclosed in Abuja, explained that the initiative aims to promote gender equality and inclusiveness through digital skills and innovations in agriculture.

“This training was designed to expose the participants to innovation in the agricultural sector, and to encourage everyone to take advantage of various benefits gained from the application of ICT in the agricultural value chain,” she said.

Vilita-Bashir highlighted that the programme would introduce participants to emerging technologies in agriculture, and help them utilise ICT tools to improve productivity throughout the agricultural value chain.

She noted the challenges faced by small-scale farmers in meeting the rising demand for food, emphasising the urgent need for technological innovation in the sector.

The DG added: “This initiative is crucial, as the global population is projected to reach 9.7 billion by 2050, with agriculture remaining a vital part of the economy.”

She said the training covered the usage of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in agriculture for applications such as robotics, soil and crop monitoring, and predictive analytics to enhance yield and profitability.

The training also included sessions on the role of ICT in providing market intelligence, weather forecasts, pest control information, and digital record-keeping for farm stocks, sales, and inventory management.

Additionally, the programme addressed entrepreneurship and social media networking as key tools for agricultural marketing and collaboration.

The Director-General reaffirmed the centre’s commitment to empowering women, stressing the importance of monitoring participants’ progress and supporting their growth.

Director of ICT at MBNCWD, Johnson Morrison-Udobong underlined the role of ICT in fostering innovative agricultural development.

He urged participants to share the skills they acquired with others in their localities as a way of cascading the skills for greater impact.

The beneficiaries expressed gratitude to the government for its support of women’s empowerment, promising that the learned skills would be shared with others to enhance agriculture.

At the end of the training, each participant received a certificate of participation, a brand-new laptop, and transportation stipends.