Nigeria sponsors 200 Youths to Israel, Morocco for Agric training

The Nigerian Government through the National Land Development Authority (NALDA) is set to send 200 young farmers to Israel and Morocco for a six day intensive training on Greenhouse farming and modern Livestock techniques.

 

This is in line with recent efforts by the government to ensure Youths get involved in Agriculture.

 

The training is part of the continuation of the National Young Farmers Scheme, (NYFS), programme flagged off by President Muhammadu Buhari sometime ago.

 

The 200 Youths are grouped into two groups of 100, one group would go to Israel for training on Greenhouse management and proper crop production techniques while the other 100 would go to Morocco for training on animal husbandry and meat processing.

 

Speaking during the official send forth ceremony of the first batch, the Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of NALDA, Prince Paul Ikonne, said the beneficiaries are being sent to these 2 countries because of their expertise in the selected areas.

 

He said, “We are sending them to countries that we know have strong expertise on what we are doing; Israel and Morocco, and this is to enhance their knowledge and to expose them to modern day practice in crop production and animal husbandry, so 200 young farmers would be sent for capacity building in Israel and Morocco.”

 

According to him, the young men and women selected from across the 36 states and the FCT will be integrated into NALDA farm programmes, which makes it more sustainable and unique.

 

“When these people go and get exposed, the next question will be how will you be engaged and integrated. We already have a platform like the institutional properties, the land from the schools, state governments and their communities definitely makes it easier for them to be integrated,” he said.

 

Ikonne further revealed that when they return they would be empowered by the Nigerian Government through the Central Bank.

 

“We are doing a programme that supports farmers, which CBN is funding, and these young farmers that are going also have their names on the list.

“The challenge they would have had is with land but NALDA is here with the partnership we are enjoying with CBN for them to get that support,” he explained.

 

Sustainability

On sustainability, the Executive Director said there was no government that would come in that would not want to build on a strong foundation that has been laid down for sustainability as the world is looking towards agriculture, and battling to have their countries self-sustainable.

 

“So any president that comes in would begin to enjoy the benefits and the foundation President Muhammadu Buhari has put in place, and that is when Nigerians will begin to say indeed that what the President has done now will be what will sustain the country in future,” he started.

 

On the criteria for selection, he said respective states were given the mandate.

 

“We sent out messages to stakeholders, and the stakeholders selected and sent their chance to present names of potential candidates for the programme.

“We are making sure that all the 36 states in the federation would participate in this train so that it makes it easier when they come back, they would be able to train the people within their state and their locality.

Funding

On the issue of funding for the training, Ikonne said the fund had been properly captured in the budget.

 

“The training is budgeted for, because whatever that is not budgeted for cannot be implemented.

“No matter what it cost to send people to get training, the most important thing is we are building a new generation of farmers that would drive Nigeria’s agriculture going forward that should be the key,” he said.

 

Beneficiaries Speak

Some of the beneficiaries spoke on the training and what they expect after the training.

 

A farmer from Katsina State, Hassan Atiku said, “I cultivate maize and millet beside foodstuff. I am very happy that I am one of the beneficiaries on this trip. I want to appreciate the effort of the President by building youth capacity on agriculture because building the youths is building the nation. I am ready to acquire more knowledge on crop production.

 

An Agriculture Educationist, Ifunnaya Ekot, said, “I am in agriculture education. Education but very interested in educating the next generation on agricultural processes, agricultural schemes, better ways to farm, especially in this day and age.

 

“I think we are all seeing what’s happening in Ukraine, and that is affecting so much of the agricultural supply. The Executive Secretary said in a brief meeting that if not for the wise counsel of Mr. President, Nigeria would have probably been among those that will be stranded when it comes to food supply, food security, they may have been food shortage.

“So, I am very interested in seeing better ways to grow crops in Nigeria. I am very excited, very grateful for the opportunity, especially when it comes to educating myself first before you can educate others.”

Confidence Okwuchi