Taraba State Governor, Agbu Kefas, has sent 30 youths to Hyderabad, India, for specialised training in advanced seed production and processing technologies as part of efforts to strengthen the state’s agricultural sector.
The 20-day training programme is part of the state government’s agricultural transformation agenda aimed at positioning Taraba as a major hub for quality seed production and agro-industrial development in Nigeria.
The initiative is being carried out through a partnership involving the Taraba State Government, Prasad Seeds of India, and AgTech Innovation of the United States under Taraba Seeds Limited. The company is currently investing more than $20 million in the construction of a modern seed processing facility in Lau Local Government Area of the state.
The delegation is being led by the Permanent Secretary of the Taraba State Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Mrs. Sarah Ali.
Participants are expected to receive intensive classroom training, practical field exposure, and factory-based learning in areas including seed science, field seed production, quality control, seed processing, packaging, storage, and emerging agricultural technologies.
The programme will be facilitated by leading agricultural institutions and global seed companies based in Hyderabad, India, a city recognised for agricultural innovation and seed technology development.
Speaking on the initiative, the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Taraba Seeds Limited, Dr. Dileepkumar Guntuku, described the programme as a long-term investment in human capital and agricultural modernisation.
“This training will provide the technical knowledge and practical experience needed to build a modern seed industry in Taraba State,” he said.
Taraba Seeds Limited, recently unveiled by Governor Kefas, is expected to focus on the multiplication, processing, and distribution of improved seed varieties including rice, maize, sorghum, and cowpea suited to Nigeria’s agro-ecological conditions.
