(Part 1)
By Ikechukwu Iroha
Just recently, Abia State Governor Okezie Ikpeazu Ph.D. as part of the Flag off of the National Young Farmers Scheme under the National Agricultural Lands Development Agency ((NALDA) by President Muhammadu Buhari.
Abia became a big beneficiary as the President approved the collaborative efforts by NALDA and the State Government for the reactivation of the Ogwe Golden Chicken in Ukwa West LGA. Under this, the Federal Government through NALDA will jointly fund the resuscitation of the Ogwe Golden Chicken with the State Government. The farm, at full capacity, can take care of 70% of the poultry needs of the entire South East region.
It was reported that this fundamental move will bring back to life, one of the largest agricultural projects in the South East. Employment is projected to be huge.
Farmers all over the world generate huge income from the poultry business. The more the consumption of chicken and eggs, the more money is accrued to poultry farmers. It gives a quick return on investment and sometimes requires small capital to start.
Poultry dropping are sources born fertilizer and manure.
In light of the above, the government can venture into Poultry farming to train farmers, create employment, and increase revenue.
It is therefore commendable to note that Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu constructed a massive 165,000 birds capacity poultry at Umuosu Nsulu in Abia Central while others are at their various stages in Abia North and South.
The State Government is in partnership with the CBN to train about 1000 youths in poultry farming from the 17 LGAs in the State. Already, over 225 youths have been trained and equipped. Their testimonies are being shared on social media with great thanks to the Governor. Many of them have employed more hands as their businesses are booming.
Look at what Abia State is doing in rice production. Abia bought seedlings from Cross River State and shared with all rice farmers in Abia to increase yield and had established rice milling plants while collaborating with CBN to establish a multi-million rice mill in Abia that will solve the production needs of rice farmers. Abia is nearing sufficiency in rice production as many youths have been supported financially and with modern farming, implements to join rice farming in commercial quantities. In each of the value chains, you find a large number of youths that have been removed from the unemployment situation. The farmers, the millers, the sellers, and the distributors.
In Oil palm, Abia State nursed over 4 million Tenera Species of palm, shared to farmers with support for oil palm production. It's on record that no State has done much as that and Abia is ready to do more. The number of jobs created by that very move is uncountable.
Through the efforts of the Government, Abia youths have been supported financially to start-up SMEs. Youths have also been trained and some sent abroad to learn automated shoemaking which their expertise will be deployed at the newly built Enyimba shoe factory.
Enyimba shoe factory is an automated shoe factory newly built-in Abia State to eliminate the challenges of manual production of shoes. Governor Ikpeazu speaking in one of the radio programs, "The inspiration came when Federal Government asked Abia to produce 50,000 pairs of military booths. I was asked how long it will take and I couldn't answer because of the manual processes it will take including the human element"
He went further, "We brought equipment that can cut leather, fix nails and other components that are required for a world-class shoe factory with a production capacity of over 20,000 pairs a day".
Employment is projected in hundreds when the factory resumes full operation. The factory has management in place and has absorbed those that returned from China. They are presently producing and will run for weeks before commissioning.
The forthcoming local government election in the State will create another big avenue for youths to get exposed to governance as well as involvement in decisions that will better the lots of their local councils. It will further create jobs for the youth population who will be voted at their various councils and wards.
The prospect is huge. Dr.Ikpeazu is leveraging his exposures and strong academic background to bring good strategies and plans to tackle unemployment in Abia.
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