The Managing Director of Jor Farms Limited, Jenkin Ben has described agriculture as a major panacea to the problem of youth unemployment and self sustenance among the youths in the country.
Ben who made the assertion on Saturday in Port Harcourt, during an interview with The Tide, said agriculture advances development and unlocks the potential of unrealized markets at the bottom of the economic ladder.
He charged government to create enabling agricultural environment to boost youth engagement in the sector, saying that government should commit more resources to youth agro-skills acquisition, research institutes, modern farm implements, agro inputs, extension services, availability of improved variety of crops and microcredit loans to young farmers.
The agric consultant also urged the youth to embrace agriculture, integrate themselves and create more cooperative societies in order to tap from the enormous resources available via financial institutions and donor agencies.
He encouraged youths to learn the art of advanced farming techniques and use of better quality seedlings to boost their annual yields.
According to him, there were influx of empowered, independent and skilled individuals into the agricultural industry, who were set to be contributors to achieving sustainable development in the country, but noted that the government had not shown serious commitment towards encouraging and supporting the sector.
He therefore, called on governments at all levels to make more financial and material input that would attract more youths and agro-allied industries into the sector.