Govt, parents urge to encourage youths on agric business

The leader, Justice Forum, Alimosho, Hon Akinola Idowu Bashiru has urged government, parents and general public to encourage youths in agric business.

He said encouraging both young men and women to participate in agriculture ensures a more comprehensive and sustainable approach, leading to increased productivity and food security.

Hon Bashiru disclosed while performing as keynote speaker at constituency stakeholders’ meeting held in multi-Joy hall, Ipaja, Lagos State. The programme was themed: “Ensuring food security for a sustainable future: Youth participation & home – home growing farming.”

The event was host by Alimosho 1 in Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon Jimoh Orelope Olatunji. It was well attended by traditional rulers, Security agencies and other political stalwarts within Alimosho area of the state.

Continuing in his speech, Hon Bashiru, explained that engaging youth in agriculture contributes to rural development by creating opportunities in rural areas. “Youth engagement in agriculture is crucial for Nigeria’s food security, given its growing population and the need for sustainable agricultural practices. Young farmers are more likely to adopt modern techniques, explore new crops, and integrate technology, contributing to a more resilient and dynamic agriculture sector. Youth are often early adopters of technology. This translates to the incorporation of precision farming, mobile apps for market information, and other technological advancements. This tech-savvy approach enhances efficiency and productivity in farming practices,” Hon Bashiru, added.

He enjoined youths to dig deep in agriculture than looking for money through proxy, and they should shun all criminal activities that likely to damage their future of dream.

Also speaking at the the event, Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt Hon (Dr) Mudashiru Obasa said the constituency stakeholders’meeting simultaneously holding in all the 40 constituencies of the state was aimed at renewed commitments to boost food security and sufficiency in the state.

Dr Obasa spoke through Hon Jimoh Orelope. He identified food insecurity as a multi-faceted challenge requiring the efforts of the government and the people to resolve, calling for collaboration of all stakeholders to end food insecurity.

“This year’s stakeholders’ meeting is the ninth in the series and has the theme: ‘Ensuring Food Security for Sustainable Future: Youth Participation and Home-Grown Farming’.

Dr. Obasa said the Lagos Assembly was committed to ensuring food security in line with the United Nation’s sustainable

development goals of eradication of poverty.

“We at the Lagos State House of Assembly are committed to making Lagos an producing state and not just a consuming state in the agriculture value chain to tackle the present-day reality of food insufficiency.

“Our commitment is exemplified through transformational laws and policy supervision in the agricultural sector,” he said noting that with the collaboration of the Assembly, the government of the state has made giant strides in the agriculture sector.

He listed some of the agricultural initiatives to include the setting up of the 34-hectare Ikorodu Fish; Farm Estate which has the capacity to produce and

process 10,000 tons of fish per year partnering with 400 fish farmers in the State.

He mentioned the AGRIC-YES

programme and “the Oke-Aro and Gberigbe Pig Farm Estates that currently partners with 1,200 farmers and have the capacity of housing and processing 88,000 mature pigs per annum.

“It is important to reiterate that, on our part as lawmakers, we have also created an enabling environment for farming activities to thrive in the state, particularly through the passage of anti-open grazing of livestock Law in September, 2021.”

He said to achieve food sufficiency, farming capacity needs to be widened while residents should consider animal husbandry.

Among the youths that spoke with journalists, Mr Saheed Surajudeen identified the problem responsible for the food shortage are many among which are insecurity that has prevented many farmers from accessing their farms, saying farming in Nigeria is no longer attractive to the teeming youths.

“I want to suggest to the government at all levels to subsidise farming and also give loans at very low interest to farmers. The government should also improve on existing physical infrastructures in farming communities that would discourage urban migration and encourage youths to embrace farming. Farming and youth unemployment are recurring issues which require multidimensional interventions to tackle,” he said.