Kwadon – The National Directorate of Employment (NDE), Gombe State, has commenced the training of 50 youths at Kwadon, Yamaltu/Deba Local Government Area of the State, under the Off-Season Agricultural Production Training Scheme.
Speaking at the occasion on Wednesday, the State Director, NDE, Mr Ibrahim Audu, said that the aim of the programme was to teach the youths on the fundamentals of dry season farming.
He said participants would be trained on poultry farming, irrigation farming, fattening and rearing of small animals.
He said the Federal Government wants to bridge the gap between rainy and dry season farming for the youths not to stay idle and to encourage them to embrace agriculture.
Audu said that the training would last for three months, with first month on theory, while two months would be for attachment on practical aspect.
According to him, at the end of the training the participants would be provided with a package to start their own farm.
Mr Olayinka Joseph, Director Rural Employment Promotion (REP) represented by Mr Jibrin Gunda called on the participants to take the training with all seriousness.
He explained that they were lucky for being among participants in the state, saying that only Gombe and Jigawa states were selected in the region for the programme.
He said farming is one of the major sources of income to farmers and the country at large, saying that the present administration places priority on agriculture because of its importance.
In his remarks, Alhaji Muhammad Abubakar, District Head of Kwadon lauded the Federal Government initiative in reviving agricultural activities in the country and the NDE for choosing their community to participate.
He said this would help in reducing unemployment among the youth and also boost food producing in the country.
Abubakar promised that his people would support the programme and advised the beneficiaries to utilise the opportunity to learn and better their life.