Experts Sensitize Youths on Value of Urban Gardening

By Jeffrey Ahonmisi

To cushion the harsh effect of the removal of fuel subsidy, an advocate of urban agriculture, Mrs Oluwatomi Olatoye has advised youths to utilise the space in their family compound to grow their food 

Mrs. Olatoye gave the advice at a day seminar for students tagged ‘Catching them Young through Agriculture’ organised by Radio Nigeria, Ibadan Zonal Station in conjunction with Nuizab African Publisher held at Studio One of the station.

Mrs Oluwatomi Olatoye said she is promoting the ‘Obe Garden’, which translates as garden for soup in Yoruba language encouraged people to grow what they need as food in their surroundings.

The urban agriculture advocate who noted that it was imperative for youths to embrace agriculture stressed that aside growing food they need; the excess could also be sold.

She noted that making a garden at home is very easy and cheap as items such as pet plastics and tyres could be recycled to grow tomatoes, pepper and vegetables.

Also speaking, the Provost, Federal College of Animal Health and Production Technology, Ibadan, Dr Adekoya Owosibo said agriculture is very important as it sustained life.

Dr Owosibo also maintained that whatever profession an individual is engaged in agriculture could be an added advantage.

To Professor Lucia Ogunsumi of the Institute of Agricultural Research and Training, IART, Ibadan, the institute has a programme to which encouraged youths’ participation in agriculture.

Speaking on mini livestock rearing, like rabbit, snails and grass cutter, a private agric extension practitioner Mr Rasheed Adegbola said embarking on the project was cheap and affordable.

One of the organisers of the event, Alhaja Zulfat Bisiriyu said the programme was organised to encourage the youths to go into agriculture instead of constantly seeking for scarce white collar jobs.

The Zonal Director FRCN, ibadan Mr Dominic Mokikan, represented by Assistant Director, Programmes, Mrs Remi Omolola said Radio Nigeria would always support developmental programmes to add value to the society.

Some of the students, who participated in the seminar, said they had been enlightened and motivated to go into agriculture.

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