By Felicia Imohimi

The Sasakawa Africa Association (SAA) says it has developed innovation bundles for cassava, potato and rice to strengthen agricultural education, extension services and technology transfer to farmers in Nigeria.

Dr Godwin Atser, Country Director, SAA Nigeria, disclosed this at the close-out workshop of the two-year Strengthening Institutional Framework for Transformative Agricultural Systems in Nigeria (SIFTAS) project on Wednesday in Abuja.

Atser says “through the SIFTAS project, we have been able to develop innovation bundles for cassava, potato and rice.

“These innovation bundles are the bedrocks for agriculture transformation for Nigeria,”.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the project was implemented by SAA with funding from German Cooperation (GIZ).

Atser said the SIFTAS innovation packages formed part of efforts to strengthen institutional capacity and improve the integration of agricultural technologies into existing education and extension systems.

He said agricultural transformation required more than introducing new technologies, stressing the need for strong institutions, effective policies, skilled personnel and functional extension services.

“Agricultural transformation cannot be achieved through technologies and innovations alone. It requires strong institutions.

“These institutional foundations are what enable innovations to move from research laboratories and demonstration plots into the hands of millions of farmers,” he said.

According to him, building a resilient, competitive, market-oriented and nutrition-sensitive agricultural sector requires sustained collaboration among government agencies, research institutions, universities, development partners and the private sector.

“Transformative agricultural systems require transformative institutions.

“If Nigeria is to achieve a resilient, competitive, market-oriented and nutrition-sensitive agricultural sector, we must continue to invest in institutional capacity, innovation, effective coordination and strategic partnerships,” he said.

Atser explained that SIFTAS was designed to strengthen institutional capacities, improve coordination among agricultural stakeholders, promote knowledge exchange and establish mechanisms for sustaining agricultural innovations.

He said the project also enabled stakeholders to identify institutional gaps, exchange experiences and develop practical responses to challenges affecting agricultural development.

He added that SAA’s approach focused on strengthening existing systems, empowering local actors and building partnerships capable of sustaining results beyond individual projects.

The country director urged participating institutions to assess the project’s impact beyond activities and immediate outputs, focusing on institutional changes, capacities developed, partnerships established and opportunities to sustain the gains.

He said institutional strengthening should be measured by the ability of organisations to continue delivering results after the completion of externally funded projects.

Atser, therefore, urged participating institutions to integrate relevant approaches into their programmes and budgets, take ownership of the outcomes and sustain partnerships established through the project.

He said the close-out workshop was organised to review the project’s achievements, share lessons and identify strategies for sustaining its outcomes.

According to him, the meeting also provided an opportunity to examine innovations, institutional partnerships and frameworks developed to incorporate transformative agricultural practices into institutional curricula, teaching and extension services.

He commended universities and green colleges for their commitment to incorporating the innovation bundles into their curricula.

Atser also appreciated GIZ for its financial and technical support, government ministries and agencies for their collaboration, participating institutions for their commitment and the project team for its dedication.

He said the completion of SIFTAS should provide a basis for stronger collaboration to consolidate the project’s gains and translate its lessons into wider agricultural development outcomes. (NAN) www.nannews.ng

FUA/TAK

Edited by Tosin Kolade