Former Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security in Ekiti State, Dr Olabode Adetoyi has advised both the Federal and State Governments to create Agricultural Processing Zones in order to harness potentials of Nigerian Youths.
He stated this while addressing some Cassava Cooperative Farmers who visited his Cassava Farm yesterday in Ekiti State.
Adetoyi, who noted that 60 percent of Nigeria's population is made up of youths, added that the potentials of the youths can be harnessed by also supporting the initiatives of African Development Bank.
The Expert, who is an investor in Agribusiness in crops, livestock feemilling and feed additives, explained that both Federal and State Governments should key into Agricultural revolution by making it attractive to the teeming youths.
The Former Commissioner, while citing the advantage of Cassava farm, explained that it is very good in Nigeria and it can be grown in nearly all the states in Nigeria, adding that Nigeria still produce 59 million metric tonnes of cassava.
According to him, we can have cassava flour, ethanol and other by products that would effective in others with tremendous effect on the country's economy.
"Both states and federal can harness the potentials of the youths by creating Agric processing zones and also supporting the initiative of African Development Bank.
"60 percent of Nigerian population is made up of our teeming youth. How can we harness their potentials?
"This is the only way to key into Agric value chain. This is a cassava farm. Cassava is very good in Nigeria and it can be grown in nearly all the states in Nigeria.
"Nigeria still produce 59 million metric tonnes of cassava. From cassava, we can have cassava flour which 10 percent will be added to our flour to make bread which will reduce our importation of wheat.
"Also, we can also get by-product such as starch, Garri, Fufu, ethanol, cassava chips, cassava flour from cassava." Adetoyi said
0 Comments