Don Tasks LGs On Agric Dev

A polytechnic lecturer has charged Kaduna State local government councils to adopt strategies that would involve youths in agriculture to reduce the unemployment rate among them.

Malam Abu Onimisi of the kaduna Polytechnic made the call in a presentation at the ongoing workshop organised by the Local Government Service Board in conjunction with Jahaji Consults.

Onimisi expressed  concern that agricultural production was dwindling even as the number of unemployed youths in the country was estimated to be 64 million.

“We have 64 million unemployed youths, while the contribution of the agricultural sector to the GDP and GNP is declining.

“Government should support and encourage them, there should be sufficient infrastructural development, agricultural mechanisation and micro-finance loan.

“The councils do not have large industries to employ these restive youths, so the only alternative is to become engaged in the agricultural sector; the youths should be taught the benefits in agriculture.

“Local government must be concerned on how to empower youths to make them become productive forces in exploiting the abundant potential of the agricultural sector.

“If not cared for, the fabrics of the national and societal development become hampered by the delinquent and criminal behaviour of some of these youths,” the lecturer said.