By Lanre Shodimu
As part of efforts to boost capacity of smallholder farmers, the Special Agro-Indusrial Processing Zones Programme(SAPZ) in partnership with the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), has trained it’s farmers on the use of agricultural Market Information System (AGMIS).
This is aimed at improving access to real-time information and market data to enhance agricultural productivity.
The training recently held in Abeokuta, the state capital, brought together multi-stakeholder agribusiness forum (MAF) chairmen, smallholder farmers, cooperative leaders, and agribusiness stakeholders from across the SAPZ clusters.
The aim focused on equipping farmers with practical knowledge on how to access, interpret, and apply market information such as commodity prices, demand trends, weather forecasts, and supply chain updates.
The SAPZ programme is a Federal Government initiative implemented in collaboration with the African Development Bank (AfDB), International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the State Governments. It is designed to transform rural economies by establishing efficient agro-processing hubs linked to farmers, creating employment opportunities, enhancing food security, and reducing rural poverty.
With the integration of digital tools like the Market Information System, stakeholders remain optimistic that the initiative will improve farmers’ livelihoods and drive sustainable agricultural growth. Participants are also expected to cascade the knowledge gained to others within their communities, ensuring wider adoption and long-term impact across the agricultural value chain.
