modern farming offers numerous opportunities for young people
Stakeholders in agriculture have said modern farming offers numerous opportunities for young people, highlighting its potential to boost the economy, create jobs, and generate income.
At the International Youth Day 2024 event in Ibadan, Dr. Simeon Ehui, Director General of the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), encouraged young people to take up farming, particularly using digital technologies.
Dr. Chrysantus Akem, representing Dr. Ehui, emphasized the need for digital methods in farming, assuring that IITA would raise awareness on embracing new technologies.
Noel Mulinganya, Team Lead of the ENABLE TAAT Project, noted that facilities to encourage agriculture were under-utilized due to youths finding farming unattractive.
However, he said that youths were being engaged and equipped to become self-employed farmers after training.
Yemisi Iranloye, CEO of Psaltey International Limited, said technological innovations were changing the perception of agriculture as a demanding and low-return occupation.
She encouraged youths to: “Leverage your position in this digital age to revolutionize agriculture with tools like drones, sensors, software, and greenhouse technology.”
Dolapo Ogunsola, Director of Youth Empowerment at AALI, commended IITA for bringing agricultural innovation closer to the people.
Olasunkanmi Olaleye, Oyo State Commissioner for Agriculture, emphasized the crucial role of youths in developing agriculture and adopting mechanized farming methods, saying:
“We cannot afford to depend on ageing farmers and crude ways of cultivation… Most developed nations have adopted the use of drones, robots, and the likes in carrying out most farming operations.”