Global Forum on Food Security and Nutrition (FSN Forum)

This member contributed to:

    • In response to your question based on my previous post; what are they lessons, if any that have you learned from your post-capacity development initiatives that you could further share on this Forum?

      There are numerous lessons learned from our post-capacity development initiatives, below are some of them:

      (1) The majority of farmers (youth) are willing to engage in agribusiness, but they don't have the capital strength to start up.

      (2) Most of our youths have the agribusiness skills.

      (3) Youth are always ready to participate in an activities that can improve their livelihood.

      (4) Lack of continuity retards progress

      (5) You can be rich when you engage in farming

      (6) Top-down approach should be avoided, while bottom up should be encouraged.

      (7) Agribusiness is the appropriate channel to alleviate poverty

    • in response to question3 : What post-capacity development support do the youth need? What can the youth do to support each other in developing their skills and capacities?

      In my opinion, the fundamental post-capacity development support our youths require is finance. If our youth could obtained a financial support, am sure the issue of unemployment in Nigeria will become a history. In Kano Kano State for example, majority of our farmers especially youth, can play a role of extension agent in other states due to series of trainings they undergone. They have the skills of agricultural entrepreneurship, but capital is the major impediment. If our youth obtained capital they will establish a business, by doing so, they can support each other by sharing ideas and engaging their friends in one activity or the other, and that can reduce unemployment in the country. And also, when our youth established business, they will serve as subject of emulation in the society.

    • In response to question 2 on examples of existing post-capacity development and the success story; In Nigeria specifically Kano state we had a series of capacity development initiatives, fundamentally, number trainings organized and run by "Kano State agricultural and rural development authority (KNARDA)" from 2003-2011. During this period, KNARDA initiated a project "Management training plot (MTP)". This project aimed at boosting productivity in Maize production. Farmers were trained, agricultural inputs were given at subsidized rate ( fertilizer =N1000/bag, seed = 500/10kg ......). In Bunkure LG of Kano State we have 267 farmers' groups, and each group constitutes of at least 25 members 70% of which were youths. In addition, each group entitled to 45 bags of fertilizer, 20 bags of which were meant for the cultivation of 2 hectares to be managed collectively by the group members, while the 25 bags were for the individual group members. The 2 hectares were used as the MTP Plot, where the extension agent facilitates the activities in the MTP plots. Farmers were trained on good agricultural practices and marketing strategies in maize production. Farmers were well capacitated, but unfortunately, due to lack of followup and continuity as a result of changes in government policies the project is no longer visible. If that project (MTP) been sustained till present, Am sure Kano state alone can produce maize beyond National demands. At this juncture, am arguing government /NGOS to strengthen their efforts in youth capacity building and it's sustainability for brighter future.

    • I am glad for having the privilege to express myself on this forum.

      In my country Nigeria, farmers, particularly youth, find it difficult to engage in agriculture due to financial weaknesses. It is believed that farming is no longer a tradition, but rather a business. For any business to ignite, one has to ensure that money is adequately setup for the business. In Nigeria most of our youth are well capacitated with agricultural skills but unfortunately money is becoming a barrier. Most of our youth received series of trainings on how to run their agricultural businesses, but they lack financial cover for the business. I'm saying this based on experience as an extension agent. Currently in Nigeria, there is an ongoing project called "TRIMING PROJECT". This project is aiming at building the capacity of the farmers particularly youth and women in order to change their mindset and increase productivity. This project employs 'Farmer field and business school (FFBS)' extension strategy to train farmers and address their problems in a participatory web. I'm one of the FFBS facilitators, and we are in the second year but this project gained audience and many farmers became experts in agricultural production. Now that they became experts, they need financial support to take off. And make sure the support follows the appropriate channels to reach farmers. I am sure that if our FFBS Farmers obtained financial support, the next generation of millionaires in Nigeria will be farmers. We have the land, labor, management, but we lack finance which is the most fundamental factor of production as far as agribusiness is concerned.