The Delta State Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Misan Ukubeyinje, has said arrangements had been concluded to revive the Youth Empowerment Through Agriculture programme in the state.
Ukubeyinje told the News Agency of Nigeria in Asaba, the state capital, that it was regrettable that the programme was rested for about two years due to “institutional and operational issues”.
“But Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan has directed that it should be revived immediately,” Ukubeyinje said.
He said the programme would be “up again” before the end of June, adding that the programme was “dear to the governor’s heart”.
The commissioner said this was because the programme was designed to help the state government in realising its objectives of employment creation through the agriculture agenda.
He said: “We have been holding meetings with the consultants of the YETA programme and by next week we shall come up with a review document for the programme, which will be presented to the governor.
“So, I assure that YETA will be coming back in the state soon.”
NAN recalls that the YETA programme was first rolled out in 2008, only to be grounded in 2010 and the state government has since then been trying to revive it.
Commenting on the programme, a former Commissioner for Agriculture in the state, Gery Ossai, lauded the efforts of government in trying to revive it.
Ossai said this would provide a platform for training youths on agricultural schemes.
“No less than 450 youths benefitted from the scheme before it was jettisoned and the beneficiaries were trained in different aspects of agricultural production,” Ossai said.
He however warned that politics should be removed in the selection of participants and the implementation of the programme.
“Consideration should be given to youths in rural communities,” the former commissioner said.
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