Organisations Empower Youths in Agribusiness Innovations, Capacity Building

As part of activities to complement government’s efforts at creating young entrepreneurs within the agricultural sector, two Non-Governmental Organisations, NGOs,  have trained and empowered about 110 youths and women in Oyo State.

The NGOs, Onelife Initiative and Horti Nigeria, trained and empowered the participants with knowledge, skills and equipment to increase cucumber production and productivity, as part of activities to mark the celebration of the International Youth Day 2023.

At a free workshop on “Profitable Innovations in Boosting Cucumber Production and Productivity on at Least Two Plots of Land” held in Ibadan, Oyo State, the participants, who came from various areas of the state, were trained in profitable innovations and techniques to enhance their cucumber farming endeavours.

Speaking at the event, the Executive Director of Onelife Initiative, Sola Fagorusi, explained that the organisation serves as the Innovation and Business Support Service, IBSS, provider for the Horti Nigeria Project in Oyo State, emphasising the importance of including youth in agribusiness innovations and capacity strengthening.

Fagorusi stated: “We want the youth to see the business behind agriculture. If the government can clear farming areas around dams and provide young people with access to the land, it will create tremendous opportunities. Just imagine if Governor Seyi Makinde’s administration offers 100,000 hectares of cleared and fully irrigated land, specifically for young people to produce. Trust me, we will fill that space with young people.”

He revealed that the initiative not only celebrates the International Youth Day, but also aims to inspire and mobilise young individuals to pursue opportunities in the horticulture sector and become successful agricultural entrepreneurs.

On his part, Bisi Ilebani, who works with the International Fertilisers Development Centre, IFDC, under the Horti Nigeria Programme, disclosed that the objective of the programme, funded by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, is to promote a youth agenda within the horticulture sector and encourage the participation of young people in entrepreneurial hubs created in Oyo and Ogun states.

Ilebani noted that the project would help Nigeria achieve food security, saying: “The old farmers are phasing out little by little and we expect the youths to take over from them but one thing we should all understand is no youth will want to go near agriculture when they know they still have to use hoe and cutlass. That is why we are trying to pilot some innovations to make horticulture farming easier, more profitable and more sustainable.”

One of the participants, an Agricultural Science teacher and school garden coordinator, Olajumoke Akinola, expressed enthusiasm at the training, saying the practical tips and knowledge gained would greatly benefit her and enhance her teaching skills.

Akinola emphasised that the training highlighted the fact that agriculture extends ‘beyond theory’ and has real-life applications.

The event featured informative training sessions on cucumber, ranging from land preparation to cultivation; labour; nutrient input; diseases; right pesticides, fungicides, and agrochemicals to use; marketing of produce; and cost analysis, among other topics.

“There were also games and other engaging activities in which participants had the opportunity to win prizes such as knapsacks, seed trays, cocopeat, higher- and lower-priced/valued tomato seeds, pepper seeds, and cucumber seeds.”

The International Youth Day is an awareness day designated by the United Nations to draw the attention of government and others to cultural and legal issues surrounding youth.

The theme of the 2023 International Youth Day is ‘Green Skills for Youth: Towards a Sustainable World.’

Shakirat Sadiq