Engaging youths in agriculture is very important, and as we always emphasized, for the youths to venture into farming they need encouragement.
The coordinated approach by the Ministry of Youth ands Sports as part of the framework of inter-ministerial coordinating committee is a bright initiative.
The Ministry through its line institution, the National Youth Service Scheme (NYSS), is engaging some 96 youths in agriculture.
Young people by virtue of their age are strong, energetic and able to work hard on farms for better productivity.
In fact, in order for the country to attain food self-sufficiency, youth’s participation in agriculture is crucial.
We wish to take this opportunity to reiterate that the youths, especially those who prefer venturing into agriculture, should be encouraged to do so.
We firmly believe that if the country is to attain food self-sufficiency, the youths must go back to the land.
However, the authorities must support these youths individually and collectively as groups, to maximise the benefits of their labour on the farm, just like what the Youth ministry has initiated.
It is sad to note that one reason why the country’s agricultural production has reduced drastically, in recent years, is because of not only because of poor rains, but also the fact that most of the able-bodied men and women have turned their backs on farming.
They prefer staying in the urban areas or travelling to Europe through illegal migration, to going back to the land.
To most of them, farming is a hopeless vocation, forgetting that farming is the source of food and wealth.
We, therefore, implore all the young people of this country to take farming seriously, and call on youth groups to also partake in agriculture, considering that food prices have, in recent times, increased beyond the reach of the common man.
