The Agricultural Transformation Agenda Support Programme Phase one, ATASP-1, Adani-Omor Staple Crop Processing Zone has announced plans to train and equip forty thousand youths in the zone, with ten thousand from Anambra State.
ATASP-1 will also train and equip five seed entrepreneurs in Anambra State to achieve its mandate of developing the youths.
Over now to our Agric correspondent, Ebele Ezeh reports that the Zonal Programme Coordinator of ATASP-1, Adani-Omor Staple Crop Processing Zone, Mr. Romanus Egba, who announced these during the flagg off of the 2021 farming season by Governor Willie Obiano at the Dr. Alex Ekwueme Square Awka, expressed fulfillment that the theme of this year’s farming season, which is “Youths for sustainable agriculture”, coincided with their mandate.
Mr. Egba disclosed that they are presently rehabilitating the lower Anambra/Imo River Basin and pumping station, constructing forty-four point four kilometers of irrigation canals for free flow of water and thirty-three point three kilometers of road within the irrigation command area, all at Omor, Ayamelum Council area, aimed at moving agriculture forward.
On women involvement in agriculture, the Coordinator, Women Farmers, Anambra State and Special Assistant to Governor Obiano on Community Farm Development, Mrs. Theresa Okoye, listed lack of developed lands, soft loans, among others, as some of the challenges militating against women contributions towards achieving the State’s blue print on agriculture.
On his part, the State youth leader, All Farmers Association of Nigeria, Anambra State chapter, Mr. Tim Onugha said the youths are ready to fill the gap between the elderly and youths in agriculture, and appealed for farm inputs, financial support, training, empowerment, market, among numerous others.
Comments are closed for this post.