Akure college trains graduates to bridge agric supply gaps

The Federal College of Agriculture, Akure, (FECA) has commenced the training of 350 unemployed graduates and other interested youths to meet up the demand and supply gaps in agriculture.

While declaring the Category A and First Batch training for the unemployed graduates, practising farmers and other stakeholders yesterday in Akure, the Provost, Dr. Samson Odedina, said there is huge profit to be made by the beneficiaries.

“Demands have been created and gaps in supply have no been met in these areas. Profitability and demand for these products and related services are real and not in doubt,” he said.

Odedina leveraged the utilization of the opportunities on knowledge-based training, post-training linkage and support centres available in the college that have enough facilities and resources for the beneficiaries.

He expressed delight “at the level of response by Nigerians who are genuinely interested in taking advantage of the Federal Government renewed commitment to use agriculture as a means of empowering youths through various agricultural value chain job opportunities.

“The college’s past trainees and present practitioners in cassava, poultry, fisheries, agricultural mechanization, food processing and agricultural value addition are now millionaires and are making decent money in these areas.”

According to him, the trainees, who came from 11 states of the federation would be awarded certificates after the training and would be given inputs as well as stipends to start their own business.

He added that the college had been awarding National Diploma and Higher National Diploma to students and vocational training to other graduates in other discipline.

The Provost, who lauded the Minister of Agriculture, Chief Audu Ogbeh for maximum support, urged the trainees to conscientiously make use of the opportunity of the programme to be self-reliant and employers of labour after the training.