Tundu Wada (Nasarawa) – The Food and Agricultural Organisation of United Nations (FAO) has called for the implementation of Youth Empowerment in Agricultural Progammme (YEAP).
FAO’s Representative in Nigeria, Ms Louise Setshwaelo, made the call in Tundu Wada at the 9th National Agric Show organised by National Agricultural Foundation of Nigeria (NAFN) with the theme: ‘Engaging Nigeria Youths in Agriculture.’
Setshwaelo said that FAO supported Nigeria Government in 2012 to design the nation youth employment in agriculture programme but government in implementing the programme has been very slow.
“ Help me request and encourage government and its partners to fast track the implementation effort on the ground for YEAP programme.
“FAO has also provided close to halve a million dollars for YEAP implementation for both the Federal and state levels.
“We do hope that our humble contribution will encourage support from other partners as well as government itself to facilitate more concrete action on the ground to get the youth engage in agriculture’’ she said.
She said that the commitment and efforts already being taken in the agriculture are just the beginning of the race because there is a lot to put in place.
“ We all know that agriculture is crucial to food and nutrition security as much as more inclusive economic development but the centre is ageing and need rejuvenation.
“ The issue of growing the young and employment has become ever pressing.
“Thus 77 per cent of youths are in various activities in agriculture, it is a good indication that young people in Nigeria are not necessarily abreast to engage in agriculture sector.
FAO`s Rep. added that youths in agricultural business are already contributing substantially to Nigeria economy and indeed it was an impressive position to build on and take the skill across the country.
“The concrete and robust efforts are to be put in place to take agriculture to next level by ensuring proficiency and profitability of agriculture as industry.
”We need to strengthen our efforts in mobilizing, sensitizing and integrating more youths into agriculture and development programmes.
“We need to provide equitable opportunity to both young men and young women in accessing the resources they need to effectively engage in agricultural enterprises for employment generation,” she said.
Setshwaelo said that FAO is welcome to partner with and support the government in this effort to open the door to new opportunity and towards achievement of the nation’s as well as globally agreed Sustainable Development Goals.
Also speaking, Mr Kabir Ibrahim, All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), said that Farmers are happy because they are sons of the soil and they are ready to make things happen.
“The 70 per cent of Nigeria are supposed to be farmers, we are here to show case our produce from the farm, we will do that happily as we go on.
NAN reports that the National Agric show will end on Thursday, April 7, 2016. (NAN)