Member representing Barkin Ladi/Riyom at the National Assembly, Rep. Simon Mwadkwon said he trained more than 600 of his constituents on modern agribusiness skills to boost their capacities.
Mwadkwon, at the closing of the two-day training on Saturday in Barkin Ladi, said the target beneficiaries were women and youths who ventured into agribusiness to become self-reliant.
The lawmaker, who was represented by his Senior Legislative Aide, Mr Daniel Jackson, said he had a lot of experience and passion for farming, knowing fully well that the majority of his constitients were farmers.
“The training programme is organised for the people of the constituency to acquire new skills to improve from subsistence to commercial farming.
“Last year we trained over 500 people; this year we have trained over 600.
“Our target is youth and women because a lot of our youths that are graduates anticipate jobs from government without success.
“We’ve sensitised and encouraged them to venture into farming and by the grace of God, a lot of them have gainfully engaged themselves into farming,” he said.
Mwadkwon said that the beneficiaries would be given starter packs and cash to enable them start their businesses.
He assured them that he would further assist those who established their businesses and were thriving to expand them.
The CEO of CAH Consultancy Limited, Mr Iliyasu Manu, said that the beneficiaries were trained in different areas of agriculture, including fishery, piggery, fattening of animals, poultry and crop farming.
Manu, who assembled the resource persons, said they made sure that the beneficiaries learnt a lot of what they intended to do in agribusiness.
“The purpose is for them to know what to do before they go in for the business and to let them know how it is conducted.
“This is imperative because if you don’t have knowledge, you’re just starting and failing at the same time,” he explained.
One of the trainees, Mrs Mary Gyang, commended Madkwon for giving the opportunity to acquire new methods to make their farming more profitable.
Another beneficiary, Alhaji Muhammad Muhammad described the training as timely and in line with efforts to boost agriculture.
Muhammad, who also lauded the lawmaker, said that the initiative would significantly contribute to food security.