1,000 unemployed youths in Kogi State are set to be trained in fish farming, under a collaborative empowerment programme.
To also benefit are 2,000 established farmers from across the three senatorial districts of the state. Each senatorial district will host an agricultural farm settlement as part of the programme.
The Federal Government backed initiative is a collaboration effort of the Kogi State government and a firm, Fedgro, and is part of efforts to tackle the unemployment problem in the state and elsewhere in the country.
Unveiling the programme in Lokoja on Thursday, the Regional Coordinator (South West and parts of the North Central States), Amalgamated Association of Fish Farmers and Aquaculture of Nigeria (AAFFAN), Otunba Eniola Ogunsanya, explained that fish farm settlements to be established in the senatorial districts of the state will accommodate 1,000 trainee youth fish farmers and 2,000 others.
The programme coordinator for Kogi, Mr. Ajubola Augustine stayed that the target is to empower 1,000. And, while the state government dig the fish ponds, the private Fed agro will provide the juveniles (fish) and their feed.
He added: “We equally give the trainees N15,000 monthly stipends. When we harvest, we share the profit; 50 percent to the participants and 50 percent to the company.
“The first instalment is for two years and those that comport themselves will feel our impact. The state too will feel our inpact, through tax payment and payment in rentage of the ponds”.
Credits: James Azania | Nation
