Anambra Empowers 1,000 Youths In Agriculture

The Anambra Government on Friday said it would train about 1,000 youths in different areas of agriculture. The Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Nnamdi Mekoh, said this when he received members of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) in his office.

Mekoh said that the vast land proposed for the programme was to enhance the possibility of applying modern machines and equipment in the state. He said the training centres would be spread across three senatorial zones: Anambra College of Agriculture, Mgbakwu, Anambra Central; Okija in Ihiala, Anambra South; and Nteje in Oyi for Anambra North.

The commissioner said that the workshop would expose beneficiaries to the knowledge of mechanised fish farming, livestock production and landscaping, NAN reports. Also, livestock farming, crops production and processing, among others, would be taught with a view to boosting food production and employment.

According to him, the internally generated revenue will be increased as a result of the transformation in the agric sector in the state. Mekoh said the ministry had earlier distributed free seedlings, fertilisers, soft loans and also tilled lands for mechanised farmers for free.

The commissioner said that the focus of its programme would be on the production and processing of rice, tomatoes, maize and cassava. He urged the NIPR to partner with the government in the enlightenment of the public on the needs to key into the programme.

In his remark, Rev. Fr. Cosmos Ebebe, the state Chairman of NIPR, said that the visit was meant to inform the commissioner of their resolve to partner with his ministry in agriculture. Ebebe said this was with a view to moving Anambra forward as well as to formally invite him to be a keynote presenter at its forthcoming seminar in the state.