Agriculture expert harps on capacity training among youth for increased yields

Capacity training for all classes of stakeholders in the nation’s agricultural sector, like extension agents and farmers, is capable of ensuring food security, food sufficiency, and peaceful coexistence in the country.

Speaking during the closing ceremony of a five-day capacity training programme for an additional 100 extension agents/farmers on small ruminant production and crop residue processing for improved utilisation by ruminants packaged by Synergy Impact Consultants and the Kwara State Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project (L-PRES) at the National Centre for Agricultural Mechanisation (NCAM), Ilorin, Kwara State, the lead consultant and research and grant manager, Centre for Dry Land Agriculture, Bayero University Kano (BUK), Dr. Akeem Ajeigbe, said that Nigeria needs to prepare well for a fast-increasing human population.

Dr Ajeigbe, who said that food security is first among other forms of security, added that the nation’s youth must be encouraged to engage in agricultural food production.

“By 2050, Nigeria’s population will be about 300 million. The land available for agriculture will be decreasing, including the grazing areas, crop farms, etc. So, this kind of training is what will prevent chaos because a lot of things that we’re throwing away are actually livestock feeds, for instance.

“If people in India with a large population in billions are feeding themselves and even exporting, Nigeria with about 300 million should be able to surpass India. But we have to start. And it’s all about intensification, integration, and increasing productivity of our cropland. And this is what we are doing here.

“So, when you talk about security, you have to first talk about food security. We must be able to engage our youth in agricultural food production. We must be able to prevent challenges among crop farmers and livestock farmers. If they see themselves as partners in progress in the economic gains, then there would no longer be friction.”

The agriculture expert, who described capacity training as a preventive measure against youth restiveness and positive for job creation, wealth creation, and peace resolution, said that “for instance, those that see themselves as enemies (crop and livestock farmers) will now become friends and partners in the development of the country. This is the kind of result we’ll be getting from this sort of training programme.”

“The good thing is that the Kwara state government has brought all the classes of stakeholders together in the training, e.g., the crop farmers, livestock farmers, and those engaging in both sectors. They are expected to step down the knowledge acquired from this training to members of their communities and even sensitise other people.”

Dr Ajeigbe, who lauded the agriculture programme of the federal government, however, said that livestock production is currently 17 per cent of the nation’s agriculture.

He said the situation is grossly inadequate while hoping that “there’s hope for improvement in livestock production and the overall nation’s agriculture with the creation of a livestock ministry.”

He also called for intensification of the irrigation farming system in all parts of the country, “talking about the repair of dams. As land available for agriculture is decreasing, we should irrigate. And there is the possibility of increased agricultural yields from irrigated land. And that means increased tonnes of feed for livestock all year round. You can imagine the amount of money that will be pumped into the nation’s economy and the number of people that’ll be involved in agriculture, as in job creation; direct and indirect.”

Also speaking, the Kwara state governor’s special adviser (special duty), Alhaji Razaq Jiddah, who represented the state government at the event, promised to convey requests for crushing machines, tools, and start-up capital made by the participants to the governor.

The governor’s aide also urged the participants to utilise the training acquired during the programme for desired results and step down useful information gathered among members of their various communities.

Speaking on behalf of the participants, Abdulrasheed Sanni commended the state government on youth development and growth, saying that the gesture assured that there’s a future for Kwara state in the area of agriculture.

He also said that the capacity training had shown them that farm residue processing is a goldmine yet to be tapped.

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