Farmers association gets ECOWAS’ $77,942 grant to train youths

 

150 youths from Bauchi State and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) are being trained on fishery and poultry production by the Community Allied Farmers Association of Nigeria (COMAFAS), powered by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) funded programme.
ECOWAS had released $77,942 grant to COMAFAS to train the youth for the implementation of youth employment strategy in agriculture and food sector in the sub-region.

Speaking at the kick-off of the programme in Kwa’ada Farms, Karshi, Abuja, the ECOWAS Commissioner for Economic Affairs and Agriculture, Mrs Massandje Toure-Litse, said ECOWAS has designed quality training modules and arranged to train 3,032 young people (30 per cent women and 70 per cent men).

Toure-Litse, who was represented by Mrs Fatmata Lucia Seiwoh, called for an urgent intervention in gender participation in agriculture and youth employment, food chains, crops, forestry, livestock, and fisheries.

She stated that the ECOWAS Agriculture Policy remains the guiding framework for the 15 bloc members as it prioritises agricultural productivity and competitiveness.

Toure-Litse added that COMAFAS will commence the training of 150 youths in poultry and fisheries as part of the ECOWAS regional strategy for youth employability in the agriculture and food sector.

She said the ECOWAS Commission early in the year released funds to 25 centres in the 15 ECOWAS countries through grant agreements to National Agriculture Research and Innovation Centres and Special Agricultural Training Centres for implementation of youth employment strategy in agriculture and food sector.

Founder/President of COMAFAS, Dr Austine Maduka, said the deal would strengthen the move to ensure availability of meat, other foods and impact relevant skills for sustainable strategies to reduce poverty.

He said: “We are building the ultimate trade exchange for poultry farmers in Nigeria because from what we are structuring, farmers are able to mingle and transact with off-takers online. And, by doing so, the off-takers would be able to see who is producing where or what they have in stock at every point in time.”

“COMAFAS is a community based agricultural organisation, owned and managed by Nigerians, established with the mandate to mobilise women, youth and all intending and practicing farmers, who have little or no idea of becoming self-reliant in agricultural business.

“The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has granted the sum of $77, 942 to COMAFAS to train 150 youths in poultry and fishery farming in FCT and Bauchi State with 30 per cent female representation.

“Our partnership with the Directorate of Agriculture and Rural Development of the ECOWAS Commission will strengthen the moves towards ensuring availability of meat, diverse food and impart relevant skills to domesticate sustainable strategies toward poverty reduction for FCT residents”, he added.