The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has supported 150 farmers in Bauchi State and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) with $78 million in training grants.
This initiative aims to enhance food security in Nigeria.
Massandje Toure-Litse, ECOWAS Commissioner for Economic Affairs and Agriculture, disclosed this at a poultry training workshop for beneficiaries in Abuja.
The recipients are Community Allied Farmers Association of Nigeria (COMAFAS) members.
Toure-Litse mentioned that the grant will bolster young people’s capacity to participate in agricultural value chains and food production.
She specified that the $78 million will be allocated to train 150 youths in poultry and fisheries.
Toure-Litse added that the sectors play a significant role in the sub-region’s economy and development.
She said:
“ECOWAS has designed quality training modules and arranged for the training of 3,032 young people (30 percent women and 70 percent men”.
“Agricultural productivity and competitiveness in West Africa has the tendency to impact positively on the sub-region’s food security, economic development, and livelihoods.
“The programme seeks to enhance the capacity of youth and women farmers. It will promote their access to resources and markets and their involvement in agribusiness.”
Toure-Litse emphasized that ECOWAS’ agriculture policy serves as the guiding framework for the 15 member countries. This will prioritize agricultural productivity and competitiveness.
“Products from crops, livestock and fisheries are the second largest when we talk about intra-community trade and interestingly, among these, livestock is the largest item,” she added.
“It is anticipated that by 2030, at least 30 percent of young people in the sub-region will be employed in the agriculture sector.
“This will amount to a 75 percent reduction in youth under-employment in rural areas.”
Austine Maduka, founder and president of COMAFAS, talked about Nigeria’s poultry industry. He highlighted that despite the expansion of Nigeria’s poultry industry, it can only meet 30 percent of the nation’s demands.
The training aims to educate young farmers on effective production management.
Maduka expressed that the partnership with ECOWAS will contribute to meat availability. And it will also impart essential skills for sustainable poverty reduction strategies.
Seventy-five of the beneficiaries will receive poultry farming training in the FCT. The remaining 75 will be trained in fish farming in Bauchi.