This is a report written by Victor Okeke of allafrica on a group of enterprising farmers initiative bringing up an initiative targeted at encouraging youth participation in agriculture
A group of enterprising farmers- Fresh and Young Brains Development Initiative says it is targeting the establishment of at least 10,000 youth-led farms and agribusinesses across Nigeria by 2020.
The Executive Secretary, Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria, Prof B.Y. Abubakar, disclosed this in Abuja yesterday at the first National Youth Agricultural Festival, saying the vision is a laudable programme which deserves the support of relevant authorities.
Abubakar said, “this programme if well implemented will have an enormous effect on the socio-economic lives of the youths in the country considering the fact that it will create employment and a critical mass of youth farmers/entrepreneurs in Nigeria.”
He explained that the project will also improve the living standard of the participating out farmers while raising the agricultural productivity of the country and create food security.
“In Nigeria, farming has been left in the hands of ageing farmers; likewise agricultural research. Since agricultural development is the basic tool of economic development, there is need for more emphasis to be placed on the role of youths in agricultural development,” Abubakar added.
Earlier, Chief Executive Officer and founder of the iniative, Nkiruka Nnaemego, said the development of the agricultural sector of the economy depends on the youths counting on their population advantage.
She said, “the Y-Farm project formally launched recently aims to establish and promote at least 10,000 youth-led farms, promote a youth-led agribusiness society, reduce poverty and increase active youth participation in sustainable agriculture across Africa by 2020 and our project through the Y-Farm: ‘My Farm, My Swag’ campaign aims to change the image of young persons involved in agriculture as poor and illiterates.”
source: https://allafrica.com/stories/201503230576.html