The National Agricultural Land Development Agency (NALDA) on Monday said the agency has began its activities in Cross Rivers State with the empowerment of 100 youths with five rabbits each.
The State Coordinator of NALDA, Mr Solomon Ubut, made this known in a statement issued to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.
The statement said that the beneficiaries were presented with four female and one male rabbits, rabbit feeds, drugs and training on handling of the rabbits.
“Before the empowerment, the beneficiaries underwent a two-day capacity training on animal husbandry and another two-day training on financial management.
“Prince Paul Ikonne, the Executive Director of NALDA encouraged the beneficiaries to be committed to make money from the rabbit farming.
“As we engage you in this lucrative business, we expect total commitment from you, in order to make money from Rabbit farming.
“So on behalf of President Muhammadu Buhari, I congratulate you and I welcome you into the national young farmers scheme programme. I look forward to seeing you becoming millionaires through this project, thank you,” he said.
Ubut said the people have been empowered with knowledge and residual capacity to handle rabbits effectively.
He said the young farmers were selected from five local government areas of Northern Cross River as a pilot project in the state.
“Those selected for the programme must be between 18 and 35 years age limit to qualify because the programme is for youths that have interest in agricultural business.
“We have 25 females and 75 males engaged in this programme. As you are aware, the Young Farmers Programme Initiatives of Mr President is targeted to empowering over 17,000 young farmers across the country.
“This scheme is to create job opportunities for our youths and reduce social vices in the society. NALDA in collaboration with the state government will extend this programme to include more youths in the state,” he said.
