Ondo govt, IFAD train 600 youths, women farmers

By Boye Oyeyemi –

The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), in partnership with the Ondo State Government, has enrolled 612 new incubatees under the Livelihood Improvement Family Enterprises in the Niger Delta (LIFE-ND) Project.

Western Post reports that over 4,563 youths and women had earlier been trained in poultry, fishery, cocoa, cassava, and vegetable farming during the first five-year phase of the project.

At the flag-off of the new phase held at Sunbeth Hotel, Akure, the State Commissioner for Agriculture and Forestry, Engr Leye Akinola, said the initiative would deepen youth and women’s participation in agribusiness across the state.

He explained that the new phase, tagged Additional Financing, would build on earlier successes.

“Under this Additional Financing phase, the project will provide apprenticeships for 13,050 youths and women across the six IFAD-funded states. Specifically, Ondo State will accommodate 2,175 beneficiaries who, upon graduation, will establish profitable enterprises,” he said.

Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture, Mrs Foluke Tunde-Daramola, urged the participants to seize the opportunity to become employers of labour, stressing that the agricultural sector offers limitless opportunities.

State Project Coordinator Dr Olawale Ademola said the Additional Financing phase would last three years before another phase could be considered based on performance.

National Coordinator, Institution, Youth and Gender Mainstreaming, Dr Clement Uwem, said the training would help participants understand agribusiness management and their obligations under the project.