The National Directorate of Employment (NDE) has trained 50 farmers on modern agricultural development practices in Imo.
Director-General (D-G) of the NDE, Mallam Abubakar Nuhu-Fikpo, said this at the official flag off of the training in Owerri, on Friday.
Nuhu-Fikpo, represented by the Imo Coordinator of the NDE, Mrs Theresa Nwachukwu, said the training, overseen by the Rural Employment Promotion (REP) department of the Directorate, was captured as part of its Sustainable Agricultural Development Training Scheme (SADTS).
He said the beneficiaries, drawn from the 27 council areas of Imo, would be trained on 21st Century agricultural best practices, to empower them with requisite skills in modern agriculture to curb unemployment in the society.
The D-G said this was aimed at promoting agriculture as a business, to attract unemployed Nigerians into modern agriculture, in tandem with the Renewed Hope Agenda of the President Bola Tinubu-led government.
According to him, the training would cover the agricultural value chain, such as production, storage, post-harvest handling and management, processing, preservation, packaging, marketing, agricultural extension, rural sociology and off-farm activities, as well as other innovative and modern technological driven skills in the agricultural sector.
He urged the participants to de-emphasise the search for non-existent white collar jobs and embrace skills acquisition, as a deliberate choice for self reliance and effective contribution to the socio-economic survival of the nation.
Also speaking, Mrs Nwachukwu said the training was informed by the zeal of the Directorate to fight unemployment to a standstill, by meaningfully engaging citizens in modern and sustainable agricultural practices.
She urged the participants to show commitment to the training, so as to justify the resources expended in the programme.
Also, the Deputy Director, REP department, Mrs Beatrice Oruoyehu, represented by the department’s Head in Imo, Mrs Onyeachu Uzoamaka, said the skills acquired by beneficiaries would provide them more profitable farm income, promote environmental stewardship, and enhance quality of life for farmers’ families and communities.
One of the participants, Mr Kelechi Ugorji, thanked the NDE for their vision, training and support for farmers, and assured that they would make use of the opportunities at their disposal to change the old narratives of agricultural practices.
