By Bisola Adeyemo
The National Directorate of Employment (NDE) under its agricultural extension scheme has trained no fewer than 158 youth farmers in modern Agricultural practices in Ondo state.
Director General of NDE, Mallam Abubakar Fikpo said this during the flag-off and Orientation of a 5 day Agricultural Extension Training in Akure, the Ondo state capital.
The Ondo state Coordinator of the Directorate, representative, Mr Bode Ogunyankinnu, Fikpo noted that the federal government was committed to lifting more youths out of the unemployment status and as well guaranteeing food sufficiency.
Fikpo said, “It is important to note that the federal government has not relented in her effort to ensure that jobs opportunities are provided especially for the teeming unemployed youths with the aim of reducing employment and poverty in the country.
“This is being done to improve agricultural extension services in the country which has a high potential for youth employment in the rural communities.
”Agricultural Extension service also known as Agricultural Advisory Service which uses science and technology driven service plays a crucial role in boosting agricultural productivity, increase food security, improve farming method and also stem down rural- urban migration.”
Fikpo noted that the training was for 50 carefully selected interested youths in Agricultural Extension training and another 108 in Sustainable Agric Empowerment Scheme SAES, Graduate Agric Empowerment Scheme GAES, Agric Enhancement Scheme AES, Post Rural Agricultural Development Training Scheme and Community Based Agric Empowerment CBAES.
”Altogether, a total of 158 unemployed youths will undergo training in modern Agricultural practices.”
The Director General said that participants will be issued certificate and loan to start their micro Agric related businesses.
He advised them to take advantage of the training to increase their agricultural knowledge and increase their income generating potentials.