By George George Idowu
The Director General of the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Dr. Simeon Ehui has called on Nigerian youth to take up farming, highlighting its potential to drive economic growth, create jobs, and generate income.
Ehui made the call on Monday in Ibadan, during the International Youth Day 2024 even.
Represented by Dr. Chrysantus Akem, the Coordinator for Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation at IITA, the IITA leader stressed the importance of integrating digital methods in farming.
He assured that IITA is committed to raising awareness about embracing new technologies.
Team Lead for the ENABLE TAAT Project at IITA’s Youth in Agribusiness Office, Noel Mulinganya, pointed out that many agricultural facilities remain under-utilized due to the perception among youths that farming is unattractive.
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However, he mentioned that efforts are being made to engage and equip young people with the skills needed to become self-employed farmers, with a focus on revitalizing the agricultural sector.
Yemisi Iranloye, CEO of Psaltey International Limited, noted that technological innovations are transforming the perception of agriculture from a demanding, low-return occupation to a viable and profitable career option.
She encouraged youths to leverage digital tools like drones, sensors, and greenhouse technology to revolutionize agriculture.
Similarly, Director of Youth Empowerment at AALI, Dolapo Ogunsola, praised IITA for making agricultural innovation more accessible to the public.
While on the part of Oyo State Commissioner for Agriculture, Olasunkanmi Olaleye, he underscored the essential role of youths in advancing agriculture and the need to adopt mechanized farming methods.
He stated: “With the rapidly growing population, we can not rely on ageing farmers and traditional cultivation methods.
“We must embrace mechanized farming and digital technologies, such as drones and robots, to efficiently manage farming operations and ensure food security,” he added.
