The Federal Government, in collaboration with the Edo State Government and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) has commenced training of 4,250 youths and women on agribusiness to boost food security in the country.

Speaking at the opening of a six-day training programme, Director Agribusiness and Market Development Department of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD), Dr. Amin M. Babandi, said the project was in line with the Federal Government’s vision for national food security in the Niger Delta region.

He noted that the vision agrees with Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki’s plan for Accelerated Agricultural Development Programme to address unemployment and poverty among youths improve the capacity of agripreneurs and ensure food security in Edo State.

She explained that the pilot phase of the programme covers the training of 125 beneficiaries as incubates and 25 others as incubators that would be exposed to the theoretical part of entrepreneurship.

Dr. Babandi noted: “Agriculture is no longer a pastime activity but a business which the federal government through the agricultural transformation agenda is promoting as an alternative source of foreign exchange earnings as revenue from crude oil is dwindling.”