Oyo North Senatorial: FG trains, empowers 70 Youths on poultry farming

Determined to boast agriculture and reduce unemployment in Nigeria, the federal government on Wednesday trained another batch of 70 youths in poultry production, processing and Marketing in Oyo North Senatorial district.

Apart from the training , the beneficiaries were also empowered with starter parks such as birds, cages,  bags of feeds and other materials including cash to assist them in starting and improving in their businesses.

The event,  held at Atobatele,Ijeru Ogbomoso axis of Oyo state was organized by the Department of Agricultural Extension, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and  facilitated by Senator Abdulfatai Buhari, the lawmaker representing Oyo North Senatorial district at the upper chamber of National Assembly.

Buhari who is also the Chairman,  Senate Committee on Land Transport  has facilitated about 10 trainings for youths in the senatorial district in the last 6 months.

Speaking on why he facilitated the training, the lawmaker who was represented by his Senior Adviser on Political Matter, Hon Abiodun Adedeji informed that  the training was part of the campaign promises made by  Senator Buhari during the electioneering period.

“Unemployment is one of the major challenges in Nigeria now and as a politician one of the way through which we can assist the youths is assisting them in enhancing their interest, and I believe trainings like this would boost their morale and allow them to have a good beginning.

“Participants were drawn from the 13 local governments across the Senatorial district and based on interest in poultry farming. We are empowering them with materials worth about N200,000  and the Ministry officials have agreed to be visiting them constantly to check how they are faring in their  businesses and give them necessary support”.

Also speaking at the event, representative of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mrs. Botar Dorothy said “the training was purposely organized by the ministry to empower the youths and in taking Agriculture to the next level so that economically they will no longer depend on people but add value to the society”

Dorothy,  who is a Director at the Department of Agric Extension Abuja expressed satisfaction with the quality of training and the materials given to the participants.

“ Imagine the battery cage  being given to the participants is a very durable one , all other things they need to start is complete , the Senator really tried because in most places they don’t give participants things up to this level.

“We will continue to monitor the farmers, we will give them helping hands so that when they have issues they can call, also our staffs are already available for them, and we also told them that government agencies in Agriculture will be there for them to ensure that the projects are sustained”.

Olanrewaju Victor, an agriculturist and an instructor at the training said : “ I am impressed with the way they responded, some of them have experience and those who don’t have  any experience have gathered quality training on production and marketing in poultry business  and I believe in the next six weeks some of them would have been making money from it.

One of the participants, Saka Badmus Oluremi   said “I have learnt a lot from this training for people like me who have no experience about poultry business, I do entertain fear about it but with this training my fear have been allayed as we were taught how to do it in such a way that it will be sustainable and profitable, and I can now go home and start my business and I believe in few months’ time I will harvest”.