Tobias Sylvester
President Muhammadu Buhari had urged government agencies involved in agriculture to include more youths in driving modern methods of farming to reduce unemployment and bolster Nigeria’s economy.
Buhari made this call at the launch of National Young Farmers Scheme, designed by the National Agricultural Land Development Authority (NALDA) on Tuseday, November 10, 2020.
The President said agriculture remains the backbone of the Nigerian economy, being the largest contributor to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
According to a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, the President assured all those interested in agriculture that an enabling environment will be created for full participation.
The statement titled, “More youth inclusion in modern agriculture will bolster economy, improve earnings, says President Buhari”, reads:
“We will do more to expand, modernize and revolutionize our agriculture, which is our most important asset. I have directed that all NALDA’s abandoned farm estates be retrieved to enable thousands of our young men and women to be engaged in farming.
“This Administration will be achieving agricultural mechanization through this scheme and I am confident that Nigeria under my watch, we will achieve food security in producing most of what we eat. In good harvest years we may even export our surpluses and earn foreign exchange,” he said.
President Buhari noted that the resuscitation of NALDA will make Nigeria food sufficient and in a few years begin to earn more revenue from export of agricultural commodities.
“By virtue of my passion and desire for agriculture and also as a farmer myself, I am directly supervising NALDA as an authority under the Presidency.
“I am asking the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and State Governments to give full cooperation to NALDA in its activities. With the success of Anchor Borrowers programme spearheaded by the Central Bank of Nigeria and new programmes to revive cotton, palm products and cocoa, the next few years will see a vast difference in our agricultural performance.’’
The President said all the necessary approvals that NALDA requires for effective take-off, beginning with areas of adequate land preparation for crop farming and livestock rearing, had been given, charging the Executive Secretary/CEO of NALDA and his team to continue to live up to expectations and increase their activities in local communities.
“I am told that, so far, 4,333 families have benefited from this scheme and it is expected that many more individuals and families will benefit as the programme is rolled out.
“I now flag off the National Young Farmers’ Scheme. It is my expectation that the Scheme will take in young Nigerians, graduates and non-graduates alike, and be part of this Government’s effort to reduce unemployment and contribute to the regeneration of agriculture and our economy.’’
In his remark, the Executive Secretary/CEO of NALDA, Mr Paul Ikonne, said the discovery of oil in the country hampered the growth of agriculture and increased poverty in rural communities, assuring the President that the concerted effort to revive interest in farming would tackle poverty and create wealth.
KanyiDaily recalls that a few months ago, President Buhari said Nigeria would have been in trouble if his government hadn’t forced unemployed Nigerians to go into agriculture.
