HortiNigeria Engages Youths On Opportunities In Agriculture

As part of measures to ensure that youths take advantage of opportunities, particularly in agriculture, HortiNigeria held a one-day agricultural workshop for youths in Zaria, Kaduna State, as part of activities to celebrate International Youth Day 2024.

HortiNigeria was founded by the Embassy of the Kingdom of Netherlands in Nigeria and implemented by the International Fertilizer Development Centre (IFDC) in partnership with East-West Seed Knowledge Transfer (EWS-KT), Wageningen University and Research (WUR) and KIT Royal Tropical Institute.

The celebration of the International Youth Day by HortiNigeria, which was hosted in Zaria in partnership with SIMKAY Foods Limited (a tomato processing company that sources produce from HortiNigeria farmers) had 46 youth participants from various communities around Zaria.

The workshop featured discussions on entrepreneurship and agricultural financing, group discussions on youth-led topics such as climate-smart agricultural tips, success stories from the Team Lead of SIMKAY Foods, and a processing facility tour. It also offered young entrepreneurs and innovators a platform to present ideas and connect with industry experts.

Various speakers took the participants through many agricultural tips that, if utilised, will better their lives, families, and society.

The keynote speaker, Abubakar Abdulwahab, took the participants to “Youth Entrepreneurship in Agriculture” Mr Okechukwu Innocent Chiaka, HortiNigeria Access to Finance Lead, exposed the participants to “Agriculture as a financing option for youths”. At the same time, Mr Zaccheaus Isuwa Baggi, Kaduna State coordinator of Innovative Youth in Agriculture (IITA), presented his paper on “Agriculture as a viable tool for abating social vices among youths.”

In an interview on the sideline of the workshop, Mr Danjuma Makama, Agribusiness Coordinator for the HortiNigeria programme, said they believe that young people are the future of our nation, adding that investing in youth in Agribusiness and expanding their digital knowledge in modern crop cultivation techniques is essential for achieving food security and fostering sustainable growth in the horticulture sector.

He further said the event was an opportunity to acknowledge and celebrate the significant contributions of young people and inspire them to be change-makers

Also speaking, the Team Lead of SIMKAY Foods Limited, Rejoice Amarachi Usim, who gave her success story on how she ventured into agriculture and is doing well today, said she has engaged over 2000 youths in agriculture with support from partners while no fewer than 400 women from Kaduna and Kano has benefitted from various agricultural trainings.

She said this year’s International Youth Day celebration reflects SIMKAY Foods Limited’s dedication to empowering Nigerian youth through initiatives like using dryers to produce powdered tomatoes with a long shelf life, tackling food security issues, and promoting sustainable agriculture.

Kefas James Kari and Peace Amos, both graduates who participated in the workshop, said their mentality had been sharpened, and they were now better equipped to engage in agricultural business rather than waiting for white collar jobs.