Lagos Agric-YES scheme for graduate farmers excites US envoy

The United States Agriculture Attaché in Nigeria, Mr. Ali Abdi, has commended the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, for initiating the Agriculture Youth Empowerment Scheme for unemployed graduates and youths.

He said that the scheme was a path to meaningful agricultural development in the state in particular and in Nigeria in general.

Abdi, who spoke at an interactive session with students of the Lagos Agric-YES programme at Araga, Epe in Lagos, on the “Role of Agriculture in Community Development,” urged the students to work harder at boosting food production in the state.

He noted that if effort like this was initiated in other parts of the country, it would spur agriculture revolution in the country.

According to him, the programmme shows a real commitment to addressing the issue of food shortage in the state and promoting the economic development of the state especially in the area of employment generation at the local level.

Abdi said that the US was concerned about the devastating effects of climate change on agricultural production in Africa and on all facets of life around the globe.

According to him, despite the challenges of climate change, Nigeria still has a climate that supports agricultural production all the year round, explaining that government needs to take advantage of that by boosting agriculture.

Abdi said the US would continue its technical and material support to Nigerian commercial farmers, adding that America would continue to link them with relevant institutions so they could acquire skills and experience in the processing and administration of agricultural products.

He said, “As part of this effort, we are facilitating the trip of a group of Nigerian farmers to an agricultural expo in Atlanta, Georgia in January. This is to expose them to new technologies and enable them to make valuable contacts. There, they will meet and interact with companies that produce and market poultry products. These would further help them to improve their production.”

The US Agric attaché noted that the Agric-YES scheme, “is apt for the speedy transformation of communities in the state, considering that majority of the population is engaged in agriculture.”

He said, “About 65 per cent of Nigerians are engaged in agriculture directly or indirectly. That is huge. Agriculture is a sector that is ideal for creating jobs at the community level, improving the health and general wellbeing of the people and enhancing community development.”

Though he did not commit the US government to the Agric-YES programme, he noted that due interest was being shown in the programme and many other agric programmes in the country.

“Sustained commitment in this mode is what the government needs because the benefits would be monumental in ensuring food security in Nigeria,” he added.