From: Agaju Madugba, Katsina

The Federal Government has begun the training of about 6,900 unemployed youth from across the country in various aspects of agro-business.

The training is being organised by the national office of FADAMA, Abuja, in collaboration with its offices in the participating states.

“The support to be enjoyed by the participants after the training depends on the business proposal each of them submits and the agriculture business venture each of them will  venture into,” Alhaji Bashir Safana, representative of national FADAMA office said, on Wednesday, at the beginning of  the training programme for the 291 participants from Katsina State.

According to Safana, “You know that if you decide to go into fisheries, the amount will vary from those who may want to go into animal production or  crops production or any other agricultural related business venture.

“But we are going to support them and that is why we want them to take the training seriously.

“The aim is to reduce unemployment among the youths and further promote agriculture.”

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Declaring the programme open, Katsina State Deputy Governor, who is also the Commissioner for Agriculture, Alhaji Manir Yakubu, noted that the state has already paid its  N35 million being the 2016 counterpart fund for the project.

He said that the amount for the 2017 edition would be settled as soon as possible adding that government has concluded plans to “systematically introduce mechanized farming to the state to boost food production.

“I wish to reiterate Katsina State  government’s readiness to support the Federal Government’s  FADAMA programmes and others of similar target for the overall benefit of our unemployed graduates and other categories of farmers in the state in particular and in the country, in general.

“In order to systematically introduce mechanisation as a way of boosting agricultural practices and boosting production, the current administration in Katsina State has made all the necessary arrangements for the launching of first phase of 40 tractors under the banner of Tractors Owners and Operators Association of Nigeria.

“The government is targeting 325 tractors ,1000 hand-pull powered tillers and assorted irrigation kits for the teeming farmers of the state.

“The aim here is not only to mechanise farming and increase production but also to create employment opportunities, redouble wealth and uplift status of farming as a real business,” Yakubu said.