By Yahaya Idris, Asaba
The Delta State Government has launched an ambitious agricultural empowerment programme aimed at equipping 1,000 youths with the skills, knowledge and practical tools needed to establish profitable agribusinesses and contribute to the state’s economic diversification.
The initiative, which seeks to reduce dependence on oil and position agriculture as a major driver of inclusive economic growth, is designed to move young people from subsistence farming into commercially viable agricultural enterprises capable of creating jobs, boosting local production and strengthening Delta State’s contribution to food security and foreign exchange earnings.
The Delta State Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Mr. Val Arenyeka, disclosed this while declaring open a Wealth Creation Training Programme through Agriculture for Youths in Ughelli.
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Arenyeka described agriculture as a major avenue for wealth creation, employment generation and sustainable economic development, urging youths across the state to take advantage of the opportunities available in the sector.
He stressed that farming should no longer be viewed merely as a subsistence activity but as a profitable business capable of transforming livelihoods and creating entrepreneurs and employers of labour.
According to the Commissioner, agriculture remains one of the largest employers of labour and has the capacity to produce some of the wealthiest individuals globally.
He therefore urged the participants to take the training seriously and approach agriculture with a business-oriented mindset.
Arenyeka said the administration of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori remained committed to strengthening Delta State’s economy through strategic investments in agriculture and youth empowerment.
He explained that the government’s objective was to encourage young people to move away from dependence on government employment and become self-reliant entrepreneurs capable of creating employment opportunities for others.
The Commissioner also highlighted Delta State’s enormous agricultural potential, noting that the state was endowed with fertile land and favourable climatic conditions suitable for the cultivation of various crops.
He urged youths to exploit the state’s comparative advantages, saying its natural endowments could support profitable agricultural production with reduced dependence on artificial inputs.
Four Agricultural Value Chains
Arenyeka disclosed that the first phase of the training would focus on four major agricultural value chains: cocoa, coffee, cotton and ginger.
He said the selected commodities offered significant opportunities for investment, value addition, export and income generation.
The Commissioner revealed that about 1,000 youths would eventually benefit from the programme, adding that the ongoing training represented the first phase of the initiative.
He said the programme would subsequently be expanded to accommodate more young people and introduce additional agricultural value chains.
Arenyeka commended Governor Oborevwori for his commitment to youth empowerment and development, particularly efforts aimed at increasing the participation of young people in agriculture and agribusiness.
Government Provides Equipment, Seedlings
The Special Adviser to the Delta State Governor on Agriculture and organiser of the three-day intensive training, Hon. George Oyefia, also urged youths to embrace agriculture and agribusiness as viable pathways to wealth creation, employment and economic independence.
Oyefia stressed the need for young people to take advantage of opportunities across the agricultural value chain, noting that the sector could provide sustainable livelihoods when approached as a business.
Conducting journalists round the training facilities, Oyefia showcased a mini tractor that would be used to train participants in mechanised farming, as well as a chaff cutter for livestock-feed production.
He said the provision of practical equipment demonstrated the government’s commitment to ensuring that participants acquired hands-on skills that could be applied beyond the training programme.
Oyefia further disclosed that the initiative had provided 10,000 cocoa seedlings, 100,000 cotton seedlings, 5,000 coffee seedlings and 5,000 ginger seedlings for distribution to participants.
He explained that the seedlings were intended to enable beneficiaries to translate the knowledge acquired during the training into practical agricultural activities and establish sustainable agribusiness ventures.
Programme Targets Youth Unemployment
One of the facilitators, Mr. Israel Yusuf, popularly known as Dr. Fish, said the programme focused on cocoa, coffee, cotton and ginger because of their export potential and strong demand in international markets.
Yusuf said the training placed emphasis on market access, value addition and investment readiness to ensure that participants understood the commercial opportunities available across the selected value chains.
He added that the programme was also designed to tackle youth unemployment, poverty and social vices by providing young people with legitimate and sustainable sources of income.
Yusuf expressed confidence that the initiative could generate millions of dollars in revenue for Delta State while producing a new generation of young agribusiness entrepreneurs who would become wealth creators and employers of labour.
Participants Express Optimism
Some participants, including Duchess Ikpasa and Kesiah Idodo, expressed optimism about the programme, describing it as an opportunity to acquire practical agricultural knowledge and expand their existing activities.
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They commended the state government for investing in youth development and providing practical resources that could help participants establish sustainable businesses in agriculture.
The initiative is expected to further strengthen Delta State’s agricultural value chains while creating new opportunities for youth entrepreneurship, employment generation and economic diversification beyond oil.
