Stories by John Oba
Abuja
The federal government has flagged off the Graduate in Irrigated Agriculture Schemes (GIAS) program, at Kadawa Integrated farm in Kano State.
GIAS, an empowerment initiative is aimed at training young graduates in various agricultural activities such as crop farming, aquaculture, dairy farming, animal husbandry for food processing and other sustainable agricultural activities is to improve the country food supply.
Minister of Water Resources, Engr. Suleiman H. Adam, speaking at the official flag-off of the scheme on Friday said that successful beneficiaries will subsequently be empowered through other government intervention programs to establish their own agric ventures or to become trainers.
Adamu noted that our economy which has largely been dependent on crude oil for decades must diversified from single export commodity to more productive activities like irrigated agriculture.
He said, “ less than 10% of 3.12 million hectares potential of irrigable land is being developed and utilized, and I have no doubt that the step we are taking are timely and appropriate under the situation nation find itself today, and will eventually lead Nigeria to greater economic prosperity”.
He said the developed irrigation schemes will provide direct job to 55,810 for farmers while indirect jobs are created for 781,430 people annually.
The Managing Director, Hadejia-Jama’are River Basin Development Authority (HJRBDA), Senator Mas’ud Doguwa, said the initiative of the federal government to commence (GIAS) Program, will generate employment for the youth and guarantee food security.
“Agriculture in particular, has the potential to not only boost our ability to feed ourselves, but also provides the largest opportunity to create jobs for our teeming young population”.
Yusfu Adbulahi, a computer science graduate from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, has this to say, ” because of the current situation in Nigeria, a lot of graduates are just sitting at home jobless, but with this any graduate who is serious to make a living should go into farming and stop depending on government for jobs.
