The Delta Government has commenced a three-day agribusiness training programme aimed at equipping 1,000 youths across the state with practical skills to build sustainable businesses in agriculture.
The Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Mr Val Arenyeka, disclosed this during the training in Ughelli on Wednesday. He said the initiative was designed to move young people from subsistence farming to commercially viable agribusiness, creating jobs and boosting local economic development.
Arenyeka said the first phase focuses on four value chains — cocoa, coffee, cotton and ginger — which he described as commodities with strong investment, value-addition and export potential. He urged participants to approach agriculture with a business mindset and take advantage of Delta’s favourable conditions for production.
The Special Adviser to the governor on Agriculture, Mr George Oyefia, said the programme includes practical training and access to agricultural equipment, including a mini tractor and chaff cutter. He disclosed that 10,000 cocoa seedlings, 100,000 cotton seedlings, 5,000 coffee seedlings and 5,000 ginger seedlings would be distributed to participants after the training.
A resource person, Mr Israel Yusuf, said the initiative would also focus on market access, value addition and investment readiness, while helping to address youth unemployment and poverty. Participants welcomed the programme, describing it as an opportunity to gain practical skills and become self-reliant agribusiness entrepreneurs.
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