IAR&T trains 120 young agro-entrepreneurs from Oyo, Osun, Ogun.

The Institute of Agricultural Research Institute (IAR&T), Ibadan has trained no fewer than 120 young agro-entrepreneurs on management and marketing strategies following its decision towards supporting the Federal Government’s move to diversify the economy through agriculture and encourage young entrepreneurs.

Speaking at ‘One day workshop organized for young agro-entrepreneurs on management and marketing strategies for small agricultural enterprises’ held in Ibadan on Tuesday, the Director of IAR&T, Professor James Adediran opined that the “growing need to diversify and grow our economy through agriculture demands that agriculture be operated as a business”.

The workshop was largely attended by young farmers and other intending farmers from Oyo, Osun and Ogun states while participants were trained in various methods which include agricbusiness and value chain, exploirable potentials in the country, agricultural macheneries, practical guides in establishing and managing small agric enterprises, farm level record keeping and accounting, marketing strategies for small agricultural enterprises as well as potentials of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) in agric marketing.

Adediran further stressed that this necessitated the need to train and encourage the young and intending farmers in the area of agriculture considering their population and potentials therein.

In his words, “It is thus pertinent to build capacity of our existing and emerging farmers in this regards.

“This all important training workshop targeted at re-orientating ourselves towards taking agriculture as business.

Also speaking on the topics ‘Agricbusiness and value chain in the Nigerian industry and ‘Practical guides establishing and managing small agric enterprises’, a resource person, Dr. Jelili Saka urged the participants to seek for more knowledge in agriculture while considering the benefits.

Saka said after the training, there will be evaluation where about 10 outstanding young farmers will be empowered in their chosen line of business.

He maintained that the 10 lucky ones will be retrained , empowered with empowerment tools and kits in the areas of livestock, maize production, grain legumes such as cowpea and soybean.