Youths, the untapped agric resources in Nigeria, say experts

To tap into the riches of the unfolding diversified economy through agriculture, experts in the agricultural sector have urged the government to make more meaningful investments in youths in order to annex their full potentials.

These experts noted that Nigeria, Africa’s largest economy is expected to double its current population by 2050 and the future of its economy is in its growing youth population. With most of its farmers currently in their aging population, the future of its agricultural sector lies in the hands of the youth, they observed.

These experts spoke at the Covenant Capital seminal, an arm of Covenant Christian Centre on the agric sector with the theme “SME Opportunities in Nigeria’s Agribusiness Value Chain.” The event took place weekend at the church auditorium, Iganmu, Lagos.

They stressed that with the high rate of youth unemployment in the country, there is need for government to harness the potential in the agricultural sector by making it very attractive to the youths.

Alfred Dixon, project leader, Cassava Weed Management Project, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), said “It is very important for youths to be connected to a source of improved technology and access to information of good agricultural businesses.”

“Youth engagement in agric can be in the production aspect like crop production, tuber production and cassava stem production. It can be in the post harvest aspect by adding value to what is already produced or the consumption aspects which comes after harvesting, it involves handling and packaging, transportation, distribution, retailing, marketing and warehousing,” he said. 

While stressing the need for the government to also address the challenges faced by farmers across the country, Oladimeji Owofemi, vice chairman and chief executive officer, Multi-Trex Integrated Foods Plc said, “In the logistic performance index Nigeria is ranked lower than South Africa which has a population of just 45 or 50 billion people. Government needs to provide good road infrastructure network to reduce production cost.”

AfricanFarmer Afioluwa Mogaji, CEO, X- Ray Farms states the need for youths across the country to see the opportunities in the agricultural value chain because the opportunities are enormous.

“With the massive opportunities in agriculture in the country, oil is supposed to be an alternative to agriculture,” he said.

Josephine Okojie