By Our Correspondent
No fewer than thirty youths are currently undergoing free training on vegetable production at the National Horticultural Research Institute, NIHORT, Idin Ishin, in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital
Our correspondent gathered that the National Horticultural Research Institute, NIHORT has the mandate of training categories of people on modern agricultural techniques.
The training which is a nine month programme is aimed achieving self reliance in the trainee as well reducing unemployment among Nigerian youths is in line with training scheme of the institute.
Newsline NG learnt that the Horticultural Academy for youthsTraining on Lowland and Upland Vegetable Production programme is a timely intervention for the 30 benefiting youth trainee selected based on consultation from groups and consideration of two local government, Ido and Ibadan south with shared boundary with the institute.
Aside amarantus, tetfaria, ewedu, the also covers fruit crop such as cucumba and watermelon production.
While the training program according to Daniel Nwogu graduate of management information systems, Attah Solomon, mass communication graduate and Orire Oyeniyi a sociologist, it is an opportunity to scale up on agricultural knowledge, to other trainee of the project the training has exposed them to modern method of land and seedling preparation, planting and weed control mechanism.
It is also, an additional practical knowledge and motivation for Debora Akanbi graduate of agricultural science to reconsider agricultural as a business venture.
In her reaction, senior research scientist in the institute extension department, Dr Funmilayo Olajide said Nigerian youths disregard agriculture as source of income saying the aged farmers in the rural areas are affecting food sufficient in the country.
In an interview, the director of research and cordinator Horticultural Academy for Youths Training on lowland and upland Vegetable Production, Dr Olutola Oyedele said the programme was an offshoot of regional empowerment programme of the federal ministry of agriculture
Dr Oyedele said the programme which was a three cycle started with two days intensive training workshop followed by lowland farming leading to the production of fruit and crops and upland farming with production of vegetable crops.
Dr Oyedele said the trainee who were also taking though the process of land and seed preparation from nursery to actual planting on the field added that the youths were adequately equipped with kits and record book and stipend for their movement.
She said the overall objective of the training is aimed at reducing unemployment among Nigerian youths.
Dr Oyedele however stressed the need for philanthropic individuals, corporate organizations, government and key stakeholders in the country to sponsor unemployed youths in the horticultural academy to reduce unemployment in the country.
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