Agriculture
AN Enugu-based commercial farmer, Mr. Ekene Uzodinma, has urged South-East governors to create and invest in farm settlements in local government areas (LGAs) to address youth unemployment.
Uzodinma, Manager of Excellent Integrated Farms Limited, made the call while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Enugu on Monday.
He noted that with systematic planning, unemployment would be wiped out of the zone, using the `back to the land’ approach as a panacea.
According to him, the benefit of agriculture has yet to be tapped by the leaders, especially the governors, with huge youth employment challenges in the land.
“If the governors can create and invest in agriculture, as done by some of the First Republic politicians, I know we will fight unemployment and ensure that no idle youth remains in our society.
“With the farm settlement in each council area, covering more than 200 hectares of land, no fewer than 200 youths will have the opportunity of working there, for a start.
“If such farm settlement is expanded in the following year to accommodate more youths and it continues like that, within the next four or five years, we would have mopped up all the unemployed and idle youths within the council area.
“This is excluding others who would work within the value chain of the produce of the farm settlements,’’ he said.
On the growing insecurity in farmlands, Uzodinma said that the farm settlements would make provision of security easier, as farmers would work and retire within the same neighborhood each day.
“Providing security for farmers by the police or agro-rangers of NSCDC may be difficult due to the scattered nature of individual farms.
“However, when there is a farm area or axis, it will make it easier for security personnel to work effectively for the benefit of all at the same time,’’ he added. (NAN)
– June 07, 2021 @ 16:49 GMT
Tags: Unemployment: Enugu-based farmer wants S’East govs. to create farm settlements in LGs
