By Gertrude Onyekachukwu-Uteh
In its determination to strengthen farm enterprises, the Delta State Government fhas organized a workshop for beneficiaries of its Youth Agricultural Entrepreneurs Programme (YAGEP.)
The one-day Agribusiness Management Workshop was attended by 254 YAGEP beneficiaries enrolled into the 2022 cycle in Crop, Fish and poultry Farming. The workshop with the theme, “Managing Your Farm Enterprise: The Critical Dos and Don’ts,” would equip them as already existing farmers, make them agricultural entrepreneurs and better managers of resources.
Addressing the beneficiaries, the Chief Job and Wealth Creation Officer and the Head of the Delta State Job and Wealth Creation Bureau, Prof Eric Eboh, harped on the milestone achievements of the Bureau since inception of the Governor Ifeanyi Okowa-led administration.
He stated that 9,154 Deltans have benefitted through the Delta State Job and Wealth Creation Bureau, with YAGEP engaging 1,776 youths. He also said 5,051 youths benefitted from the Skills Training Entrepreneurship Programme (STEP), adding that the Graduate Employment Enhancement Programme (GEEP) engaged 170 youths, while the Production and Processing Support Programme (PPSP) supported 2,157 already existing farmers.
He lauded the consistency and transparency of the programme as reflected in the Job Creation Bureau Portal, deltastatejobcreation.net, stressing that the job and wealth creation programme of the state government is a role model in the country.
While congratulating them for being part of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa’s vision for a more prosperous Delta State, he tasked them to work hard to ensure that their participation in the programme improved their lives.
He tasked them to ensure they register their businesses, keep farm records, write a business plan and to insure their farms as these factors would favourably position them to access loans and grants to grow their businesses.
On his part, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Wealth Creation, Mr. Gerry Osai, commended Governor Okowa for keeping his promise of nurturing youths into entrepreneurs and farm owners.
One the resource persons, Dr. Emmanuella Clinton, in her lecture, “Managing Your Farm As a Profitable Enterprise: The Critical Dos and Don’ts,” advised them not to collect more than one loan at a time, not to spend their business fund on personal needs and to make success their watchword.
The beneficiaries were exposed to topics such as, “Sharing Experiences on Running a Profitable Farm Enterprises: Challenges and Solutions,” “Types, Benefits and Procedures of Agricultural Insurance,” and “Questions and Answers on the Procedures for Getting Agricultural Insurance.”
Responding separately, Charles Igumbor and Stella Nwube in Aquaculture and Crop Production respectively thanked the state government for the opportunity granted them to expand their farm businesses and to become employers of labour.
