By Mohammed Kandi
The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) has called on Governments to utilise the myriad of potential in agriculture to create wealth and jobs for the teeming youth population in their area.
Director General of IITA, Dr Nteranya Sanginga, who made the call while
addressing stakeholders at the Oyo State Economic Summit recently, said “there are opportunities for the youth to start small businesses in seed production, input supply, weed control, and processing, among others.”
In a statement by Godwin Aster, IITA’s media expert, Dr Sanginga explained that the youth could engage modern methods in farming- reduce the labour required, raise yields, and increase income.
Represented by Dr Kenton Dashiell, Deputy Director General for Partnerships & Capacity Development, the DG recalled the IITA Youth Agripreneurs model, saying there was the need to change the mindset of the youth.
He explained that the Youth Agripreneurs project – the first of its kind in the CGIAR—engages young people from various educational disciplines and through mentoring and training transforms them into agripreneurs.
He added that making agriculture a business is at the core of the program.
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