37,000 new generation farmers to be trained by IITA

In a bid to tackle the problem of ageing farming population, the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan, has perfected plans to train 37,000 youths across the country on agribusiness.  This was disclosed recently by Dr Tarawali Gbassey, the head of station, IITA, Abuja, when the station hosted the African Development Bank (AfDB) President, […]

In a bid to tackle the problem of ageing farming population, the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan, has perfected plans to train 37,000 youths across the country on agribusiness. 
This was disclosed recently by Dr Tarawali Gbassey, the head of station, IITA, Abuja, when the station hosted the African Development Bank (AfDB) President, Dr Akinwumi Adesina. 
According to Gbassey, the young ‘agripreneurs’ made up of men and women graduates from various fields of study would be trained in areas across the agricultural value chain, adding that they, in turn, engage other youth when they started their own business. 
Gbassey stated that the state-of-the-art Youth Training Centre built in Abuja and Ibadan would be replicated in the 36 states of the federation to train talented and energetic young people. 
Addressing the gathering, Adesina said that Africa used to import food worth $35bn, annually, adding that the figure could hit $110bn by 2025, if concerted efforts were not made to halt the trend. 
“The need to feed Africa needs the youths,” he said. 
“Our talented youths must be mentored, encouraged and supported to productively engage in agriculture as a business so as to reverse the trend of growing food import bill in Africa.”  
He said that the AfDB had rolled out a programme known as “Enable Youth Programme” to make youth future millionaires and billionaires. 
Another beneficiary, Mercy Haruna Wakawa, from Borno State, said that the training exposed her to various business opportunities in agriculture as she ventured into post-harvest processing.