NYSC partners cereals research institute on modern agric training

By Albert Akota

The National Youth Service Corps has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the National Cereals Research Institute (NCRI), Badeggi, Niger State, on the training of Corps Members and Staff on modern farming methods.
The formalization of partnership by the two agencies comes as NYSC is revamping its agricultural programme in line with the Federal Government’s policy on diversification of the economy.
NYSC Director-General, Brigadier General Shuaibu Ibrahim, said at the NCRI office today that the Scheme was tapping the potentials of Corps Members for the promotion of agriculture with a view to contributing to the nation’s drive towards self-sufficiency in food production.
He remarked that the partnership would add value to the existing initiatives of the Scheme aimed at empowering Corps Members for self-employment, adding that opportunities were already being provided for them to acquire skills in various vocational areas through the Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development Programme, which was introduced in 2012.
In his remark, the Executive Director, National Cereals Research Institute, Dr Aliyu Umar, said the institute’s mandate included conduct of research into genetic improvement and improved production system of rice, soyabean, sugarcane, acha and castor; improving processing methods of the mandate crops products as well as design and fabrication of agricultural implements and equipment.