In a bid to boost food security, the federal government in partnership with the Oyo State government has rolled out a special Agribusiness intervention scheme for selected youths across various local government areas of the state.

The Oyo State Agribusiness Development Agency, OYSADA, through the Nigeria COVID-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus, N-CARES initiative with the support of the World Bank distributed cassava stems, fertilizers and other agro-chemical to the youths at Fashola farm, Oyo.

Addressing the one hundred youth beneficiaries, the project coordinator, Resort Area 2, Mr Bamgbola Kolawole explained that the post-COVID-19 intervention plan for youths was geared toward increasing food security and supporting the food supply chain for poor households.

He noted that the initiative which would span about 2 years would empower over 6,000 youths. 

Mr Bamgbola said the youths who were divided into ten groups are expected to cultivate 50 hectares of land on the Fashola farm having been given the materials to complement several efforts of interventions by the Governor Seyi Makinde-led administration in the agricultural sector. 

In an interview, some of the beneficiaries lauded the continuous support of the state government as it was empowering them with necessary intervention to ensure their self-reliance.

Director of Agriculture and Desk officer, Oyo West Local Government Area who represented the council chairman, Mr Salam Akeem, expressed commitment to ensuring the objectives of the intervention were achieved. 

It would be recalled that the Oyo State government had trained about 3,300 youths in Agribusiness in Nasarawa State, from which the 100 beneficiaries for this intervention were drawn.

Iyabo Adebisi

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