The Agro-Dealer Network Development project (AND), co-funded by Nigeria’s National Program for Food Security (NPFS) from March 2008 to December 2009, increased the capacity of agro-dealers in 10 Nigerian states (Anambra, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Cross River, Kano, Imo, Jigawa, Ondo, Sokoto and the Federal Capital Territory).
AND educated and empowered extension officers who then trained 100 agro-dealers in each of the 10 states (a total of 1,000 agro-dealers) over a 12-month period. Agro-dealers were trained in:
• Product knowledge, safety and handling
• Salesmanship and marketing
• Business skills and financial/inventory management
• Logistics, planning and delivery
• Input use, crop production and processing technologies
During the 2010 Nigeria Fertilizer Voucher Program, the extension officers trained by the AND project were utilized to train extension agents and farmer association executives. These “master trainers” also supervised voucher and fertilizer distribution in Kano, Bauchi, Taraba and Kwara states. As the voucher program continues to evolve, targeted farmers will deal directly with local agro-dealers to purchase inputs.
Photo Caption:
Fertilizer storage facility in Nigeria