By Okechukwu Onuegbu
The National Youth Council of Nigeria, NYCN, Anambra State chapter, Monday, secured partnership with the State FADAMA office with a view to engage more youth in agriculture and improve food productions and exportation.
The State FADAMA coordinator, Mr Chuks Egbue, who disclosed this in his office at Awka, during a meeting with the State NYCN delegation led by the Council Chairman, Surv. Emeka Obi, linked the younger generation with various facilitators of FADAMA in their respective areas.
According to Egbue, the initiative was to ensure ease of access to agricultural empowerment programmes of the government, as more youth in Agriculture would help to develop the sector more.
He further posited that the exercise would help to sensitize the youths at the grassroots, to position themselves to benefit maximally from government agricultural initiatives by ensuring that they meet all the criteria for accessing such packages in the state.
Egbue disclosed that the FADAMA programme is presently disbursing agro support to farmers at the grassroots, in the areas of cassava, rice, maize and poultry.
“Our approach is community-based and that is why we require our facilitators to go to the communities to educate the youths on the initiative and how they can be qualified for the programme," he stated.
The state FADAMA boss urged the youths not to allow politicians or enemies of their progress to use money to derail your vision, advising them to refuse the antics of the politicians to use them for destructive ventures.
In his speech, the Anambra NYCN Chairman, Surv. Obi said the collaboration with FADAMA marks a breakthrough in his administration’s efforts to secure better partnerships that will yield in improved living condition for Anambra youths.
Obi, who expressed appreciation to the FADAMA for underscoring the importance of youths in driving the 21st century agricultural transformation initiatives, assured that his leadership will follow through and ensure that the partnership is seamless.
According to him, Anambra youths are progressive and willing to participate in any gainful venture that will alleviate their sufferings.
Obi however pleaded that the processes and requirements for accessing the agro support be simplified, to enable more youths qualify.