Africa
Mr Ganiyu Egunjobi, the Chairman of Agege Local Government Area, Lagos, seeks low-interest rate loans of single digit for youth farmers, to end food crisis in the country.
Egunjobi made the call at the 9th Constituency Stakeholders’ Meeting, which held simultaneously in all the 40 constituencies of the state on Friday.
The theme of the meeting was: “Ensuring Food Security for a Sustainable Future: Youths Participation and Home-Grown Farming”.
He said that giving low-interest loans to youths who were interested in farming business, would go a long way in reducing the rising cost of foods in the country.
The chairman identified insecurity and non-availability of low-interest loans for the youth population as some of the factors responsible for the food crisis.
“The problems of food shortage are many, among which is insecurity, which has prevented many farmers from accessing their farms. Farming in Nigeria is no longer attractive to the teeming youths.
“I want to suggest to the government at all levels to subsidise farming and also give loans at very low interest to farmers.
“The government should also improve on existing physical infrastructures in farming communities. That would discourage urban migration and encourage youths to embrace farming,” he said.
Egunjobi said that farming and youth unemployment were recurring issues which required multi-dimensional interventions to tackle.
The Keynote Speaker, Dr Akinyemi Olusegun, a Director at the Lagos State Ministry of Agriculture, urged youths and residents in the state to engage in urban farming.
“In Lagos, we are more than 22 million and as a result, we have a huge need for food. People want to eat and engage in food business,” Olusegun said.
He also urged youths to focus on home-grown farming.
Olusegun said that to achieve food sufficiency, farming capacity needed to be widened, while residents should also consider diversifying to animal husbandry. (NAN)
11th October, 2024.
C.E.
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