We Sponsored Youths to Germany on Modern Farming to Reduce Unemployment-Osun Govt

By Abdulrafiu Agboola, Osogbo

Osun state government has said that the recent sponsorship of some youths to Germany by the state to acquire modern farming techniques was part of its efforts to alleviate poverty, reduce unemployment and revamp agricultural sector in the state.

The state said the allocation of land for the trained young farmers is aimed at positioning the state for mass food production.

The Coordinating Director, Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security and Youth Engagement, Dr. Olubukola Aluko stated this in a chat with newsmen in Osogbo.

Aluko who said the engagement of the youth in farming would not only reduce unemployment rate but position the state for more revenue generation.

He said government would set up an agency to handle land allocation for farming in the state, saying the step became necessary to resolve challenges facing young farmers.

The agric expert who maintained that government was keen into diversification of economy of the state to agriculture, said agriculture was key to economic survival of the state.

He attributed the problem facing the sector to lack of adequate resources, saying the state government had concluded plans to reposition agriculture to make it productive and result oriented.

Aluko commended the state Governor, Rauf Aregbesola on his prompt intervention programmes aimed at re-energizing and encouraging youths to farming.

He said various intervention programmes of government in agriculture sector had been yielding positive result over the years.

The Coordinating Director hinted that plans were in top gear to make farm settlement in the state more functional, effective and productive, submitting that with resolution of problem that often attached to land acquisition, the settlement had be expanded to meet the needs of the residents.

Aluko therefore called on farmers in the state to take advantage of the dry season farming programme put together by government to enhance their agricultural production.