Agriculture is a Panacea to Unemployment in Nigeria - Idowu

 

Mr. Osun Idowu, an Agric Supervisor from the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) Ibadan, stated that agriculture is a panacea to the unemployment situation in Nigeria and Africa at large. 

This he said on Tuesday while delivering a lecture on the Impact of IITA to the 2021 Batch A corps members dislodged to Osun State and those dislodged from Lagos State at the Permanent  Orientation Camp Ede 

 Mr. Idowu opined that The Nigerian population is growing at geometric  progression while food production is growing at an arithmetical progression. He emphasised that the onus of IITA ENABLE TAAT is to see about the implementation of the U.N Millenium Development Goal. The Agric Supervisor outlined the goals of IITA which includes: no poverty, no hunger,  eating well and living healthy. He disclosed that IITA is funded by African Development Bank. 

Mr Idowu charged the Corps members to join the Technologies for Africa Agricultural Programme under IITA, that it aids in practicing farming in modernised and smart ways. He added that with the  technology-driven Agriculture, each member stands to gain at least twenty five tonnes of each of the product cultivated.

He made it known to the  members that the programme kick started in 2012 with Corps members. 

 "Most Corps members who started with us are making wealth and creating employment for others.

"Some of their agro products include Iron beans, Maize, sorghum, millet, Rice, wheat, Cassava, sweat potato.  They are all heat resistant and improved crops coupled with  Aquaculture". 

Mr. Idowu also enlightened them on the opportunities in IITA such as: production, processing, packaging, transportation, storage, marketing and exportation. 

According to the Supervisor. the agency also organizes technical skill development, business management skills, finally Soft-easy training for people in various sectors of Agriculture. 

 Mr. Idowu concluded by admonishing the Corps members to embrace the huge opportunities in IITA.