The Plateau Youth Agricultural Empowerment (PYAER) program has commenced, with an onboarding session for selected beneficiaries held at BARC Farms. This initial gathering took place at Government College, Jos.

The occasion officially launched the first cohort of 1,000 young people, who were handpicked from more than ten thousand applications around the state.

Each youth was given a hectare of land within a sprawling 4,500-hectare “BARC Farms” site. Equipped with machinery, seedlings, fertilisers, and other farm inputs, the promise of a new future was sure.

Speaking to reporters on the farm during the orientation and onboarding, Lead Focal Person for the Project, Mr Yari Kumch,  said, “This program is about reintroducing agriculture to the youth in an attractive, engaging, and inspiring way. We want the youth to see agriculture not as a fallback but as a first choice, a profitable and respected career. Agriculture is the future, and the youth must lead.”

Kumchi was candid about the urgency of creating alternative sources of employment for youths, stressing that agriculture could employ the teeming youths.

The orientation and onboarding event drew high-level participation, including Hon. Musa Ibrahim Ashom, Commissioner for Youths and Sports Development, who delivered a stirring message on behalf of Governor Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang before the participants departed for BARC Farms.

“The governor has made it clear: the youth are the centrepiece of his administration,” Ashom said. “You are at the beginning, the middle, and the end of everything we do.”

He revealed a game-changing plan, including the recent Memoranda of Understanding signed between the Plateau State Government and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAN) to upgrade the Yakubu Gowon Airport, Heipan, to an International Cargo Airport.

“We are upgrading Yakubu Gowon Airport to an international cargo airport. This means the produce you farm here at BARC Farms will find buyers in Nigeria and worldwide.”

“There is no grain you produce that won’t be bought. Off-takers are lined up, ready to buy maize, rice, and soya beans. Plateau is fast becoming Nigeria’s agricultural hub.”

Ashom urged unity and focus, stressing the nonpartisan stance of the initiative:

“This initiative is not political. It’s intentional. It’s about creating deliberate, sustainable wealth for our youths. Once the youths are empowered, Plateau State is empowered.”

Also speaking at the event, Hon Hitler Joshua Pajok, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Youth Mobilisation and Engagement, emphasised the initiative’s scale and vision.

“This is the start of something big,” Pwajok.

“It’s not just about one farm or one season. We plan to expand this to the Central and Southern Zones of Plateau State in the coming years. Over time, we’ve observed that the government’s space to accommodate youths in different employment spaces is insufficient.

In his magnanimity, the governor has graciously granted the youths access to a BARC farm on over 4,500 hectares of land.

“For 1,000 youths to cultivate 1,000 hectares. Each will be allocated 1 hectare and government is providing imputes such as seedlings, herbicides, pesticides, while also providing machines and in the end after cultivation government will extract the cost of production and then the profit will be the seed money for each youth that participated in this project to now go back to their various localities, their various local governments and be able to invest or reinvest this money in the business of farming.”

“The plan would extend to the Central and Southern Zone of Plateau State. And before this Excellency’s tenure ends, the goal is to ensure that we have only 15,000 to 20,000 youths who will be independent in farming.”

Also speaking at the event, Mr Ishaku Jilensam, Program Manager, PADP, further explained the engagements with the host community.

“We allocated space for the locals to do their own business and ensured security with lighting and personnel on site. You can see the results: over 1,000 hectares have been cultivated, with more than 500 hectares already planted with maize, soybeans, and rice.”

The youths exuded a clear sense of purpose during their transportation from Government College Jos to BARC Farms for orientation and onboarding. Many had eagerly anticipated such an opportunity.

Source: Independent

Image Credit: View Point