IFAD, FG, Edo Govt. To Train 4,200 Enterpreurs On Agri-businesses

Iduozee Paul, Benin

The National Rural Institution for Gender and Youth Coordinator of LIFE-ND Project, Dr. Celement Uwem, said the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the Federal Government and the Edo State Government is to train a total of 4200 youths and women on various skills and trades to make them self-reliance in life.

Dr. Celement Uwem, made the statements at a one day worshop for stakeholders on Agricultural Development Programme on the Policy Engagement meeting on Agricultural Extension Service Delivery for Livelihood Improvement Family Enterprise in the Niger Delta, LIFE-ND Project, Edo State Project Coordinating Office, Benin city.

Dr.  Uwem said:" the essence of this ADP policy dialogue is to engage the Agriculture Development Programme. In our work in LIFE-ND. LIFE-ND means; Livelihoods Improvement Family Enterprises in the Niger Delta. "

"This programme is funded by Internatiinal Fund for  Agricultural Development (IFAD), based on the loan grant given by the federal government with collaboration of the states participarting  states of the Niger Delta, as well as, the NDDC."

"The programme is meant to create employment for youth and women in the rural areas, of the Niger Delta. The model we are using is called the incubator model. Where an agrio- business enterpreur in the communities are identify."

" In the enterprise promoted in that state. We now engage such persons to carry out training to people, we attached them to, which we called the incubatees. The training take place for two production circles. "

"At the end of two production circles, these young persons are given capital to establish and be on their own. By so doing, the federal government is trying to tackle the unemployment issue in the country. Specifically, in the Niger Delta region. "

"It is in keeping with the National Youth Policy, whereby the federal government will continue to engage the Youths, and make sure they have something doing. In this project, we are going to consider gender balance."

" Both Male and female youths, women headed households are being considered. Because there are women who are 'breadwinners' of their houses. Those kind of persons are being engaged. They may not fall under 35 years of age. If is a youth, it must be a youth between the ages of 18 to 35 years

"The IFAD livelihoods programme is also a social inclusive. We also engage physical challenge persons or people living with disabilities in the their Communities. It is a rural based agricultural Intervention."

" It is meant to improve the economic of the rural areas, and ensure that all inhabitants have equal opportunity to benefit from this intervention."

" That's why we are here. Is to bring in  extension, because without using the improved technology in agriculture. You are not likely to have the yields, because the world is witnessing climate change. Climate change has greatly affected agriculture."

" Agriculture also generate green house grasses, that lead to climate change. One of the things we are doing is to make sure we produce under a climate sensitive thinking, so that we would have the technology that can withstand the adverse effects of the weather."

" So that our production will be sustainable by producting for the present and the future generations. We have to engage the ADP, which we know has a reseviorer of technical staff, that have been driving an agricultural production for many years. We are having a very rubost engagement with them."

"We are trying to ask for their technical assistance in the areas of rice, cassava, fish and poultry productions, which are enterprises, promoted by the Edo State Government, which is part of IFAD projects in Edo state. We are having a very fruitful engagement with them."

" We have broken into groups, where they are tackling specific enterprises, and come out with recommendations that would help us build a framework for building a very strong extens