Agriculture experts from Federal Government and six benefiting states in the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) value chain programme, converged on Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital to find workable suggestions on how best to improve the programme.
At the event held at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library in the state capital, participants suggested a paradigm shift in the way agriculture was being practiced with old farm population to involve adequate youth participation.
Seventy per cent youth involvement is being targeted in the six benefiting states to ensure the sustainability of the programme, especially in rice and cassava value chain.The Director of Agriculture in the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Salisu Hammed, who represented the Minister of Agriculture emphasised the need for establishing entrepreneurship skill in the youths to ensure the sustainability of the programme.