FG To Allocate Temporary Land To Youths For Agriculture

The Federal Ministry of
Agriculture and Rural Development plans to allocate temporary lands to interested youths to enable them to embark on agricultural activities, says  the Deputy Director, Youths in Agriculture, Alhaji Abudullahi Abubakar.
Abubakar made this known in Abuja at the national stakeholders meeting organised by Fresh and Young Brains Development Initiative, an NGO.
He said that the plan was part of efforts by the government to reduce unemployment in the country.
He, however, said that the Federal Government could not give land but that farmers could access land at their various states and local governments, citing Kwara as an example.
According to him, the National Centre for Agricultural Mechanism (NCAM), Ilorin, is in charge of land allocation in the state but said that no Certificate of Occupancy will be issued for the land.
He said that youths would be allowed to use the land for various agricultural purposes only.
Also speaking, the National President, Nigerian Women Agro-Allied Farmers Association, Mrs Lizzy Igbine, advised the government to engage youths in the agriculture sector.
“Agriculture is a professional business; the government should, therefore, enhance the practice of agriculture and make funding available to farmers directly.
“The government should also help farmers to obtain the C of O land  for any land allocated to them, to enable them to  access credit from banks.’’
Meanwhile, the founder of the organisation, Miss Nkiru Nnaemego, said the essence of the stakeholders meeting was to let the youths know that they could be involved in various aspects of agriculture such as food production, processing, marketing and advertisements.
“Farming is an instrument in ensuring food security and that is why we brought stakeholders together, including the media, government representatives, civil society and other partners in development.
“We want to promote young people because they are not really being celebrated like the ones in sports and entertainment.”
She said that as part of the campaign, the initiative had rented land in Mpape, where experts would train young people.
Nnaemego said that trained youths would later be brought together to showcase their entrepreneurial skills in agriculture during the ‘International Youth day’ in August.