THE Director of Youths For Agriculture Nigeria (YFAN) in Abia State, Obinna Ibiam has called on governors to key into youths’ agricultural employment programmes through YFAN, saying if youths are effectively empowered to engage in agricultural activities, Nigeria’s food value chain would increase to reduce unemployment.

Ibiam said this in his Uzuakoli country home in Bende Local Government Area, after receiving 3,000 Application Forms for Youth In Agriculture Empowerment from the state Ministry of Agriculture.

The Senior Special Assistant to the immediate past state governor, Theodore Orji, also urged the National Assembly to enact laws that would enhance employment of youths in agriculture.

According to him, youths for agriculture is the only grassroots alternative to dilapidated crude oil revenue’, adding that the collaboration of YFAN with the Federal Ministries of Agriculture and Finance, Central Bank, banks, research institutes and the states would produce desired results in terms of food production and creation of youth employment opportunities.

YFAN he said, had an inclusive nine year strategic plan with the federal government that would catalyse youth employment in agricultural at the grassroots and expectedly create about 37 million jobs in the 774 LGAs of Nigeria.

He paid tribute to immediate past governor for sustaining youth empowerment programme recalling that one of them called Liberation Farms, created and provided employment for 3000 youths.