Agric Initiative To Benefit 10,000 Youths By 2020

A group of enterpris
ing 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 (ARCON) Prof. B. Y. Abubakar disclosed this in Abuja recently at the first National Youth Agricultural festival.
He said the vision is a laudable programme which deserves the support of relevant authorities.
“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 youths farmers and entrepreneurs in Nigeria,” he said.
He explained that the project will also improve the living standard of the participating youth farmers while raising the agricultural productivity of the country and create food security. Abubakar decried the practice of learning farming in the hands of ageing farmers, likewise agric research.
According to him since agricultural development was the basic took of economic development, there was need for more emphasis to be placed on the role of youths in agric development.
Earlier, the Chief Executive and founder of the initiative, Nkiruka Nnaemego said the development of the agric sector of the economy depends on the youths counting on their population’s advantage.
“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” he said.