130 youths have been selected to be trained and empowered on crops and animal production as well as agricultural extension services in Bauchi state to promote food availability and security.
The selected youths are to undergo the training under the empowerment programme of the Senator representing Bauchi South Senatorial District, Shehu Buba Umar.
Mohammed Dahiru, one of the Programme Coordinators, stated this during the distribution of training forms to the selected youths in Bauchi on Saturday.
According to him, the youths were selected across the Seven Local Government Areas of the Bauchi South Senatorial District of Alkaleri, Bauchi, Bogoro, Dass, Kirfi, Tafawa Balewa and Toro.
He said that the Senator’s attention has diverted to agriculture where he thought it wise and mandated them to select 130 participants to be trained on both crops and animal production as well as Agric extension services.
Mohammed Dahiru said, “They will be trained on crop production like rice, maize, soya beans, and many others and there is also a portion of animal production which consists of the process of raising and breeding animals for various purposes such as meat, milk, eggs, and other animal products.”
At the end of the programme, they would able to have a knowledge of farming in both crop and animal production, financial management of farming and they will also know how to farm some selective crops that are more predominant in the state and animals that are not predominantly reared in the state.
“They will also know how to monitor and evaluate a particular farm and the safety precautions that are within the farming activities,” he said.
Also speaking with newsmen, Engr. Musa Idi, the second programme Coordinator, said that after the training, each of the beneficiaries would be empowered with some farming equipment that consists of a solar-powered spraying machine.
According to him, “After giving them the empowerment materials, they will be given an allowance that would help them to start something.”
“With this, they would be able to start a small farming business and put what they have learned into practice. This is going to help them a lot as the move by the senator is a huge one geared toward eradicating poverty,” he said.
One of the beneficiaries who spoke on behalf of others, Mohammed Ibrahim, lauded the senator for initiating the training and promised to make effective use of the training.