The rural-urban migration suffered by Kaduna and other Nigerian states in the last few decades has seen food production plummeted while demand for food has increased, as youths now prefer the white-collar jobs to farming. However, Governor Mukhtar Ramalan Yero of Kaduna state is set to buck the trend by training youth and women in various farming techniques and providing them with farm implements using the 2012 Sure-P funds. ABDULRAHEEM AODU highlights the steps taken by the Kaduna state government.
Following the recent distribution of farm implements and the sum of N10, 000 as start-up capital to 7,600 women and youth in Kaduna state with over 5,000 of them trained in various agricultural practices, Governor Mukhtar Ramalan Yero has taken significant steps towards making the state self sufficient in food production, while addressing unemployment and in effect insecurity in the state.
The youth and women that were drawn from across the 23 local government areas in the state, were taken through weeks of training by consultants from national and international institutions to imbibe in them hands-on-the-job before they were given the farm tools, farm inputs and start-up grant to ease them into a lifetime job that promised to yield immense gains for them, their families and the society at large.
The beneficiaries were trained under the Kaduna state 2012 SURE-P Youth and Women Empowerment Skill Acquisition Training Programme, with 1, 585 trained in irrigation farming, 477 were trained in rice production, 411 in maize production, 273 in fishery, 250 in poultry, 229 in rice milling, while 194 were trained in horticulture.
Other areas where they received training include 192 in fish processing, animal husbandry (191), bee keeping (119), cassava production (122), sugarcane production (146), cattle fattening (189), goat keeping (148), piggery (76), ginger production (192), vegetable processing (186) and honey processing (190).
The training when fully applied will ensure that Kaduna state improves not only in food production but also in food processing to eliminate wastage in foods produced in the state without losing the taste of freshness. Some of the trainings like fish processing would also add value to the foods produced thereby increasing their worth.
Addressing the beneficiaries and a mammoth crowd that gathered at the Kaduna Township Stadium, Governor Yero said the programme is aimed at creating wealth by providing employment opportunities for the youth and women in the state to reduce poverty, youth restiveness and bring insecurity in the state to a rapid end.
The Governor urged the beneficiaries to use the opportunity afforded them by the training to create a better future for themselves, while warning them against selling the starter packs or handling their work with levity, as they would be constantly monitored and evaluated by government officials and independent assessors to observe their progress and development.
“As pioneers of a novel initiative of this administration, use the skills you have acquired during this training programme for the benefit of not only yourself and immediate family but to the good of the entire people of our state. We firmly believe that programmes of this sort will go a long way in taking youths off the streets thereby enhancing the security and wellbeing of our people.
“With agriculture being the largest employer of labour in the state, coupled with our determination to revive the sector to ensure food security as well as employment generation, we have trained youths in 12 trades under the Agricultural Enterprise and Rain-fed Agriculture.
“To ensure that all the trainees settle down in their various trades; 477 youths trained in rice production will be given starter packs worth N53, 050. 00 in 25kg of improved seeds, 2 litres of Pendiline, 4 bags of NPK fertilizer, a bag of urea and take-off grant of N10, 000.
“Fishery is another trade under the Agricultural Youth Empowerment Programme. A total of 273 youths received training in fishery. Each of the trainees would receive starter packs worth N139, 150. 00 in 1no reinforced plastic tank 2,500 litres capacity, 1,000 pieces of advanced fish juveniles, 15kg bag of multi-feeds (2mm, 3mm and 4mm) and a take-off grant of N10,000.
“Each of the 250 youths trained in poultry production will receive starter packs worth N129, 520.00 in 100nos 2 weeks old Aboika broilers, 4nos 4 litres drinkers, 4nos round metallic feeders, 4 bags of 25kg feeds (starter), 8 bags of 25kg feeds (finisher), N30, 000 for housing (10m2 cage), N5,000 for treatment and transportation and a take-off grant of N10,000.
“Each of the 189 youths trained in cattle fattening will receive starter packs worth N162, 800 in items to include 2nos 2 year old bull, bags of 100kg concentrate feeds, 2nos metal feeders, 2nos open drinkers, N10,000 for treatment and transportation and a take-off grant of N10,000.
“The 411 youths trained in maize production will each receive starter packs worth N51, 475.00, 122 youths trained in cassava production will each receive starter packs worth N55, 360.00, 146 youths trained in sugarcane production will each receive starter packs worth N59, 350.00, 89 youths trained in ginger production will each receive starter packs worth N90, 437.00,
“The 76 youth trained in piggery will each receive starter packs worth N55, 700.00, 148 trained in goat keeping will each receive starter packs worth N55, 475.00, while 119 youths trained in bee keeping will each receive starter packs worth N66, 450.00.
“The 229 women trained in rice milling are to receive starter packs that include; rice milling machine, the sum of N5,000 for raw materials, N5,000 for installation and N10,000 as take-off grant. Each starter pack is worth N146, 500.
The Deputy Governor of Kaduna state, who is Chairman of the Kaduna state 2012 Sure-P programme, Ambassador Audu Bajoga urged the beneficiaries to put the starter packs and training grants into meaningful use to improve their living conditions and that of their families.
The Deputy Speaker, Kaduna State House of Assembly, Hon Peter Adamu Adada, who represented the Speaker said, “an opportunity has come your way, God has used the Governor to uplift your position in life. Use this opportunity to build yourself to support the other youth who don’t have the opportunity to benefit from this programme.”
The Emir of Zazzau, Alhaji Shehu Idris, represented by the Emir of Jema’a, Alhaji Muhammadu Isa, thanked Governor Yero for addressing unemployment, poverty and insecurity in the state using the Sure-P fund. He urged the beneficiaries to make the best use of the opportunity.
Ananias Everest from Kajuru LGA, who was trained on goat keeping said the training and starter packs would enable him cater for himself and his family. “After collecting the starter packs, I would make sure that the training I was given does not waste. The money I make I would use in training another youth in the goatery and take care of my family.
Gaddafi Magaji from Birnin Gwari LGA, who was trained on cassava farming for two weeks, said, “Iam happy for the seeds, furadan, MPK fertilisers given to us as starter pack by the state government. They also gave us N10,000 cash. We thank the Governor for it because it was the first time a state governor has done this to us.”
