Youth
THE Lagos Agro-Processing, Productivity Enhancement and Livelihood Improvement Support (APPEALS) Project, a World Bank -assisted programme – is training youths in new technology in acquaculture to develop its export potential.
The Project Coordinator, Mrs Oluranti Sagoe-Oviebo, made the disclosure during a tour of the Wheviyon Fish Farm Cooperative Agricultural Multipurpose Society in Badagry on Wednesday.
According to her, the training is to add value to aquaculture in the state and create export opportunities in it.
Sagoe-Oviebo said that the technology was to process fish-to-fish fillet, fish burger and fish crackers, hoping that youths would embrace it because of its export potential.
She said that the APPEALS Project observed that there were many youths in agriculture and was taking steps to identify them and adopting technologies that would suit them.
“We have observed that we have a lot of youths in agriculture, and we are taking deliberate steps to identify these youths and look for technologies they will adopt easily.
“One of the things we have done in APPEALS Project is to add value to fish products beyond smoking.
“Our vision is to ensure that in every supermarket, you will only find made-in Nigeria fish crackers,” she said.
Sagoe-Oviebo said that the cluster group being trained was made up of graduates of fisheries from various tertiary institutions in Lagos.
She said that the technology would make them more productive, noting that the market was huge.
“I can tell you that this cluster that is made up of 12 youths, all graduates of fisheries, are the first set of people to adopt the technology.
“If you go inside the production room, you will see what they are producing; in fact, they cannot meet the market demands.
“This is a technology they can easily identify with because it is new; you must be innovative to attract youths, that is what the project is all about, it is innovation all the way.
“APPEALS Project is all about enhancing the productivity of small and medium scale farmers across three value chains, poultry, rice and aquaculture, in Lagos State,” she said.
The official said that the objective was to enhance productivity, increase process output and improve livelihood.
“One of the things the project is looking at is ensuring food security and promoting nutrition and export potential.
“One of the areas APPEALS is looking at is empowering existing farmers, women and youths,” she added.
She described the enthusiasm of the youths as wonderful, adding that with more support, they would do more.
The official said that capacity building was needed to empower the youth.
“They must know the principles guiding a lot of the things that they want to do, and these are the things that will propel them, the project is ready to support them in the adoption of processes.”
A beneficiary, Mr Jubril Kazeem, a graduate of Fisheries Technology, Lagos State Polytechnic, said that his passion for agriculture made him to apply to study the course.
Kazeem said agriculture was lucrative and interesting.
“I love agric and decided to study it.
It is stressful, but I enjoy doing it. I was introduced to aquaculture project by my boss for about 10 years now.
“I have been stocking mine until the APPEALS project came to empower me and my colleagues.
“We are 12 in number and all youths and graduates. We are being empowered with fish and feeds, which are the main inputs one needs to start with.
“In the next four months, I will harvest and sell the fish,” he said.
He urged Nigerian youths to start doing something no matter how little, and then seek support.
Another beneficiary, Miss Mosunmola Ayeola, commended the APPEALS Project for support given to youths in agriculture.
Ayeola, a graduate of Fisheries, Lagos State University, Ojo, said the project had brought much innovation to attract and empower the youth.
“I am into fish processing, l process it into fillet, fish crackers and fish burger.
“You can use fish in your burger and it is very filling, tasty and nutritious.
“Our fish crackers too are highly nutritious and tasty.
“These are the benefits that we get from APPEALS Project. I have been in fish business for 10 years and it has been awesome.
“APPEALS project has made it better,” she said.
She urged Nigerian youths to engage in agriculture and continue to build on it.
“Help will come one day.”
NAN
– Sept. 17, 2020 @ 09:26 GMT |
Tags: Aquaculture: Lagos APPEALS Project trains youths in new technology
