Farming: ‘I make N1.2m every 6months growing vegetables’
A24 year-old undergraduate of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, Mikel Nebuchukwu, has said he makes N1.2million every half year by growing vegetables supported by irrigation in Kontagora, Niger State.
Nebuchukwu, a 300 level Agriculture student said he went into farming when his parents could not afford his tuition at the start of the recession.
He said: “I shared the ugly story with my pastor, Mr. Israel who advised that I should try farming vegetables. I did that without delay by buying pumpkin seed, pumping machine and hired people to make beds for the crops,” he said.
Mikel explained that he specializes in farming pumpkin, green vegetable, Scent leafs, and water leaf. He uses fertilizer to boost their growth and applies water with the pumping machine every two days for quick growth.
“This is stress-free for me,” he said, “as I am presently using five hectares of land for the farming and I am making about 1.2million naira in every six months.”
Mikel called on his fellow students to look inward as there are many means of surviving in agricultural sectors. “I am planning for 15 hectares next season and I know I will make it,” he spoke of his expansion plans. Story from Chidiebere Ebenyi, Mass Communication student, Federal Polytechnic, Bida
The New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD), Nigeria last Tuesday said it will partner with the state governments to empower the teeming unemployed youth through skills training and fund accessibility.
The National Coordinator/Chief Executive Officer of NEPAD Nigeria, Princess Gloria Akobundu disclosed this during a 2-day stakeholders workshop on “Skills Initiative for Africa” held in Abuja.
“We want them trained so that we can help them access funds and be able to start a business on their own,” Akobundu said, noting that the programme is designed to discourage Nigerian youths from embarking on perilous journey to Europe through the Sahara desert and the Mediterranean.
The training, she said, would focus on infrastructure, agriculture and food processing, and would help strengthen the economy, curb insecurity and restiveness.
In her remarks, Estherine Fotabong, Director, NEPAD Continental, noted that only 40 per cent of the 1.1billion population of African youth are employed, urging the government to provide enabling environment for small businesses to strive.