Percy Onyeka
National Directorate of Employment (NDE), Taraba state has commenced its skill acquisition training in sustainable Agricultural Development Training Scheme, SADTS, targeted at 100 unemployed youths.
Speaking during the flag-off orientation ceremony of the SADTS training scheme at camp lavet hotel in Jalingo, the Director General, Alhaji Abubakar Fikpo, disclosed that the SADTS programme, under the Rural Employment Promotion Programme of NDE, was designed to create sustainable employment for the unemployed and interested youths, thereby reducing reliance on
few white collar jobs.
Fikpo who was represented by the Taraba State coordinator, Alhaji Danjuma Shehu, explained that it is in line with the Federal Government policy on employment generation and job creation among youths in particular, adding that the SADTS programme would expose participants to modern techniques in agricultural production.
In his words he said “The Sustainable Agriculture refers to an agricultural production and distribution system which help to provide more profitable farm income, promote environmental stewardship, and enhance quality of life of farmers, their families and communities.
“This programme is therefore in line with the Federal Government police on Agriculture for empowerment, wealth creation and food sufficiency. Agricultural research and extension services and high-input for sole cropping or animal production system in which the state has comparative advantage” he said.
He further state that, the target group comprise all unemployed youths, from school leavers to graduates of tertiary institutions and people with special needs such as disabled persons, albinos, etc. who have passion for agriculture as an enterprise.
Highlighting that the trainees will be rigorously trained in various aspects of modern agricultural production for a period of three (3) months with two (2) weeks of experiential training in both livestock and crops. While the remaining period will be used for the production exercise on the adaptive farm.
Responding on behalf of the participants, Mrs. Zainabu Adamu, thanked the Federal Government and the Directorate for approving the training and for selecting Abia State as one of the few states to run the programme.
She gave their firm promise that they would put in their best during the training and at the end become employers of labour.
Techrectory with Agency Report.
