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A Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), Civil Society for Ethics and Value Development Initiative (CSEVDI), has urged Nigerian youths to seek alternative in agriculture as the only way of getting job without stress.

The Coordinator of its Ogun State chapter, Mr. Abayomi Bajela, made this submission at the workshop on developing right ethics in Abeokuta.

He said Nigerians are living in the midst of plenty but lack everything due to nonchalant attitude towards farming and the country’s total neglect of the farming sector. He stressed the need to re-organise the agricultural sector as well as urging the youths to key into the sector instead of roaming the streets for non-existent white collar jobs.

“We need to change our ethics and re-arrange our values on agriculture. This will be great and appreciated by the people. Instead of our land lying fallow and overgrown with weeds, we need to put our land to use for agricultural purposes,” Bajela said.

He added that agriculture was a key value in enhancing Nigerian youths’ potential when key they into it, noting that it generates more economic productivity, especially with the shortage of government-generated employment.

Bajela further explained that agriculture would create windows of opportunities for the teeming youths of the country who are ready to venture into farming.

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In his presentation, the CSEVDI Secretary-General, Mr. Tajudeen Toyun-Oke, said the nation’s agricultural sector had suffered retrogression due to non-application of and non-compliance with the core ethics and values of the sector.

The resultant effects of this, he said, have been problems, including hunger, under nutrition and blindness, among others.

Also speaking, the state Director of Fisheries, Mr. Ajayi Adekunle Obafemi, noted that agriculture was being viewed by majority of people, especially youths, as a business for uneducated and rural people because of the challenges associated with agricultural production.

He said farmers were facing the challenge of inadequate improved technology, poor knowledge of management of agricultural equipment and farm tools, adding, however, that with attitudinal change of farmers in country, more people would be encouraged to key into sector.

“You are not only to produce food for the people for consumption but to become entrepreneurs and employers of labour. All you need to do is to change your orientation and behavioural attitude towards agriculture,” Obafemi added.