Can Government Make Agriculture Attractive to Youths
The rate of youth unemployment in Nigeria is quite alarming and millions of young people are facing a daunting challenge to overcome these perilous circumstances. More than one third of the youth population is unemployed. For young people, finding stable and gainful employment has become a priority at the expense of creation of self sustainable livelihoods. The government’s lackluster attitude towards Agricultural development has forced many of us to shift our attention away from farming. In the early 90s Agriculture was the most vibrant sector of the Nigerian economy– engaging about 70% of the labour force while producing about 80% of the total food consumption. Today only a fraction of the youth is actively engaged in farming as a result of its unattractive nature. Young school leavers have often been cajoled to return to the farms, but the lack of a cohesive structure in place in recent times has raised questions about the Government’s sincerity. Over reliance on crude oil ha