Lagos to broaden youth capacity in agriculture

 

Lagos State Government, through the Ministry of Agriculture has restated its commitment to broaden capacity and stimulate the interest of youths in all value chains in the agriculture sector through intensive training and skill acquisition programmes.

The Commissioner for Agriculture, Hon. Toyin Suarau stated this during his working visit to the designated camp of the Agriculture Summer School programme for Secondary School students as part of the Ministry’s tour of Agric facilities in Epe Local Government and environs, adding that the Agric-Yes Summer School Programme was introduced by the government to provide secondary school students with the technical skills through an on-farm practical teaching and field demonstrations.

He explained that the two-week intensive training programme which will end on Friday 10th August, 2016 will empower students and make them understand the benefits inherent in agriculture as a money making venture and not as subsistence as most people perceived it.

Also speaking at the site of the Cage Culture System in Agbowa-Ikosi Community, Suarau noted the State government introduced the Cage Culture System in riverine communities as a tool of youth empowerment to promote fish farming, stressing that a lot of youths in riverine communities have shown interest in the initiative.

“Presently in Agbowa, 60 participants are currently undergoing training on how to make floating cages, nets and fish farming right on the natural water bodies. This system will save them the cost of pond construction, stress of changing water and sorting because the fishes will be in their natural environment”, he added.

The Commissioner however revealed that the participants will be trained for at least four months after which they are expected to harvest the first set of fish, before they are empowered by the government to make a living out of the acquired knowledge.

The Special Adviser to the Governor on Food Security Mr. Sanni Okanlawon,in his remark at the Eko Rice Mill in Imota, Poka, Epe said the present administration will continue to look into every area and possible initiatives that will contribute to increasing the yield of farm produce in the State.

He added that in spite of the global climate change which constitutes a challenge to food security, the present administration will leave no stone unturned to address these challenges, promote food security and encourage investment in agriculture adding that this is part of the reasons why his office was created.