FG trains women, youths in Delta, Edo

National Horticultural Research Institute (NIHORT) has trained and empowered over 150 women and youths farmers in the production of tomato and plantain suckers in Ndokwa East Council of Delta State.

This happened as the National Directorate of Employment (NDE), yesterday, trained no fewer than 20 people made up of youths and women from Edo South Senatorial District on Fish Farming Technique to boost food security and production.

In Delta, NIHORT, in partnership with House Reps member representing Ndokwa/ Ukuani Federal Constituency, Ossai Nicholas Ossai, engaged farmers in a one-week workshop at Kwale town for capacity building and investment in plantain production for the economic growth of the Country.

Declaring the workshop open yesterday, the Chairman, NIHORT Governing Board, Major General, Mohammed Garba (rtd), said: “Tomatoes and Plantains are important economic and food security crops and undoubtedly important horticultural crops in Nigeria.”

Garba explained that the crops have been linked to many health benefits such as a reduction in cancer.

“Tomato and plantains are capable of impacting positively on our nation’s agricultural economic development and our desire to achieve sustainable economic empowerment and growth in the commodity value chain of the crops that make the training crucial to build the capacity of our citizens,” he added.

The acting Executive Director/Chief Executive Officer, NIHORT, Dr. Ephraim Nwanguma, said the Federal Government had deliberately focused on agriculture to lift the country out of “food and nutritional insecurity.”

In Edo, NDE trained no fewer than 20 people made up of youths and women from Edo South Senatorial District on Fish Farming Technique to boost food security and production.

The training was facilitated by Senator Matthew Urhoghide, who represents the district in the National Assembly.

Each of the trainees was given an N50,000 starter pack to enable them start their business at the end of the training.

Declaring the training programme open, the Edo State Coordinator of the NDE, Mr. Edobor Solomon, commended the Federal government and Senator Matthew Urhoghide for the opportunity and platform for the training.