Human capital development through purposeful re-engineering of the nation’s vocational system has been the primary objective of the Lagos State government that has seen it as the sure path to real economic emancipation of citizens and eradication of poverty in the state.
The government believes that a well educated and motivated human capital has a positive and impacting influence on agricultural development.
Perhaps, that is why Governor Babatunde Fashola introduced the Agric-Youth Empowerment Scheme Programme, (Agric-YES) and others aimed at boosting food production and supply in the state — in the area of aquaculture, poultry, piggery, fishery, among others.
Through its youth agricultural training scheme at Aragba, in Epe , the state government has showed its determination to fast-track agricultural revolution,? tackles the problems of unemployment? and poverty, while boosting food production in the state .
Miss. Olanrewaju Oloko, who studied Biochemistry at the Lagos State University, told LEADERSHIP, after completing her first degree in 2008 and had no job, that her desire to contribute and help boost the food basket of Lagos State, South – West Nigeria made her to enrol in the Agricultural Youth Empowerment Scheme of the state government.
According to her, “Food is a special need in human life. It is a weapon in term of war. So, I desire to do whatever that can help me contribute to the development process in my immediate community and beyond. This is in line with the vision of the Agric-YES-to ensuring food security in the state.”
Oloko added that she was presently earning a living through agriculture after completing the six month Agric-YES training programme.
Mr. Salami Bolaji, a graduate of Olabisi Onabajo University in 2008, who is also a beneficiary of the Agric-YES programme that he had similar success story to tell.? He had studied Plant Science in the institution and decided to actualize his dream by participating in the free Agric-YES programme.?
After going through series of training both in Nigeria and Israel, he became an expert in egg and vegetable production and aquaculture.
Bolaji told LEADERSHIP that he presently rakes in a minimum earning of N100, 000 monthly by engaging in agriculture.
His words, “I hope to double this income in the future. “Agric-YES has provided me an avenue to broaden my knowledge of agriculture,”
In furtherance of this initiative, best described as “the boldest and sincerest effort” on the part of government to maximize the youths’ potential for processing, storage and marketing of agric produce, the state government has given the first 100 beneficiaries of the scheme N4.5 million take-off grants to establish their own agricultural venture.
The goal of the Agric-YES scheme is to train 1,000 youths in mechanised farming in the next five years. Already, two sets of 200 youths have been trained. The youths being trained must be ready to make agriculture their means of livelihood.
The Lagos State Commissioner for Agriculture and Cooperatives Mr. Gbolahan Lawal affirmed that the future of the state actually resides with resolve of governments to harness the agricultural potentials of the state.
According to him, “The second phase focuses on a six-month internship stage which enable those who scale through the first phase to proceed to the commercial farm to learn best practices on running successful farms. The third stage, is the exit stage where successful trainees are settled in farm estates fashioned after the Israeli Kibutz/Mashev, and Lagos Micro Finance Institution (LASMI) will provide credit facilities and settlement for them.”
He said about 200 youths have benefited from the Agric-YES, while another set of 50 youths are currently being tutored and mentored at the state Agricultural Training Institute.