IAR&T, NASS train youths on maize value chain

The Institute of Agricultural Research and Training (IAR&T), Ibadan and the National Assembly committees on   agriculture in a bid to generate employment for youths in the country recently organised a one-day workshop   on maize value chain.

Speaking during the opening ceremony of the workshop which held at IAR&T, Moor Plantation, Ibadan,   Director of the Institute, Professor James Adeniran, noted that following the economic recession of the year  2016, the Economic Recovery Growth Plan (ERGP), have targeted economic diversification as a way of widening the revenue base of the country.

He stated that it was as a result of this that the agricultural sector has been identified as a sector with high potential in the speedy realisation of this noble objective. “The agriculture sector has contributed immensely to the country’s emergence from recession owing to its substantial and prompt response to the various policies and strategies put in place to address the challenges of the economic recession.”

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Adeniran, further noted that:”This feat undoubtedly attributable to to the vast opportunities for investment and growth in the sector considering the vast arrays of produce and products from the sector. Not  only is the sector traditionally responsible for producing food and fibre, but also provides employment for about 70 per cent of the Nigerian populace.” He posited.

He informed that it is therefore the intention of the government to continue to use the sector to generate

employment for Nigerian youths. “The crop sub-sector of the agricultural sector is endowed with a lot of

enterprise. However, the maize enterprise has for decades demonstrated unending potential in addressing

household food security and industrial growth.”

Adeniran, urged participants at the workshop to take advantage of the opportunities made available by two

committees on agriculture in the senate and the House of Representatives in enriching themselves to make

brisk business from maize production.

At the end of the workshop, participants were given starter pack to kick-start their maize production

business.