Taraba Sponsors 30 Youths To India For Advanced Seed Technology Training

The Taraba State Government has sponsored 30 youths to Hyderabad, India, for intensive training in advanced seed production and processing technologies as part of efforts to reposition the state as a major agricultural hub in Nigeria.

The initiative, driven by Governor Agbu Kefas, is aimed at strengthening the agricultural value chain and positioning Taraba as a centre for quality seed production and agro-industrial development.

The 20-day training programme is being implemented through a partnership involving the Taraba State Government, Prasad Seeds of India, and AgTech Innovation of the United States under the framework of Taraba Seeds Limited.

Taraba Seeds Limited is currently investing over $20 million in a modern seed processing facility in Lau Local Government Area of the state.

Leading the delegation, the Permanent Secretary, Taraba State Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Mrs. Sarah S.D. Ali, said the participants will undergo classroom sessions, field practicals, and industrial factory training covering seed science, production, quality control, processing, packaging, and storage.

She said the training is designed to expose beneficiaries to global best practices in modern agriculture and seed technology.

Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Taraba Seeds Limited, Dr. Dileepkumar Guntuku, described the programme as a strategic investment in human capital and agricultural modernisation.

He said the training would equip participants with technical knowledge and practical skills needed to drive a modern seed industry in Taraba State.

Taraba Seeds Limited, recently unveiled by Governor Kefas, is expected to focus on multiplication, processing, and distribution of improved seed varieties such as rice, maize, sorghum, and cowpea adapted to Nigeria’s agro-ecological conditions.

The beneficiaries are expected to return after the programme to support the establishment and operation of the seed processing industry and contribute to agricultural development in the state.