Diversification: ‘FG must stimulate youth interest in agric’

Federal Government must stimulate interest of youth, especially secondary school students in Agricultural Science subject and Agricultural practice if it is really serious about diversifying the country’s economy from mono-product status which has witnessed a downturn in recent times, due to the fall of oil price in the global market.

Victor Olowe, a professor and director of Agricultural Media Resources and Extension Centre of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB) made the statement while speaking during the handover of two earthen ponds and a deep well to the management and students of Egba Comprehensive High School, Asero Abeokuta, Ogun State over the weekend.

BusinessDay findings that the scheme was organised by the Training and Farm Demonstration (TFD) of the Agricultural Media Resources and Extension Centre (AMREC) and the West Africa Agricultural Productivity Programme (WAAPP), an international organization with branches in Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya and Senegal and with mandate to combat hunger and food insecurity in Africa.

The expert, who disclosed that the programme had used technology to improve cassava farming, livestock, particularly sheep, poultry and aquaculture, said that it had also engaged in training of secondary students and youths in these areas to stimulate their interest in farming.

He, then tasked the government not to pay lip service to its diversification from mono-product economy of oil to agriculture noting that, “farming can turn thousands of young school leavers to providers of employment, hence young ones need to be caught in earnest to participate in the agricultural revolution”.

Olowe commended management of the school for involving the students in the day-to-day management of the pond saying this would arouse and sustain their interest in fish farming adding, “if the pond is properly nurtured, the proceeds from the products will go a long way in improving the finances of your school”.

While maintaining that WAAPP would continue to empower communities and schools to increase food production, Olowe said the organisation would provide a smoking kiln to the school for the processing of dry fish for export.

Earlier, Love Kehinde Dickson, the Principal of the school, commended WAAPP and FUNAAB for the opportunity given the students to use the ponds for training, research and extension, adding Egba Comprehensive High School, as one of beneficiaries of the programme, would harness the opportunity to train the students on the nitty-gritty of aquaculture.

Meanwhile, officials of Ogun state Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, Ministry of Agriculture, Ogun State Agricultural Development Programme (OGADEP), Old Students’ Association of the school and Parents Teachers Association (PTA), who all made brief remarks at the event, applauded the programme and pledged their support for the sustenance of the programme.

RAZAQ AYINLA