Off the wire
• 2nd Ld: Donald Trump sworn in as 45th U.S. president  • Sudan hopes U.S. would continue lifting sanctions on Sudan as Trump sworn in  • Interpol launches project to fight wildlife crime in Africa, Asia  • New head of UN mission in South Sudan takes office  • Iraqi forces fight to defeat last IS strongholds in eastern Mosul  • UN says 12 mln face food insecurity in 3 East African countries  • Kenya's bourse turnover rises despite decline in shares traded  • Istanbul police headquarters targeted in flame-thrower attack  • Greece records 14 deaths from flu this winter, experts sound alarm  • Kenya calls for speedy resolution of crisis in The Gambia  
You are here: 　 Home

Nigeria to train 200,000 youths on agriculture

Xinhua, January 21, 2017 Adjust font size:

Nigeria has decided on plans to train 200,000 youths in the country on seeds production, processing and packaging in its Agricultural Transformation Support Program, Phase one (ATASP-1), an official said Friday.

The training would commence in the first week of February, Haruna Akwashiki, National Coordinator of ATASP-1 said in Abuja, the country's capital.

The program was aimed at closing the demand gap in seeds production, Akwashiki said, noting that the program was also geared toward creating employment and wealth across rice, cassava and sorghum value chains.

He added that ATASP-1 had three components of infrastructure development, commodity value chain development and program management.

The coordinator said ATASP-1 would be implemented over a period of five years in 60 local government areas in Enugu, Anambra, Niger, Kebbi, Sokoto, Kano and Jigawa States.

The program will be funded by the African Development Bank (AfDB) and the government with the bank providing 152 million U.S. dollars and 23 million dollars by the government, he said.

ATASP 1 was launched in 2015 as part of efforts by the Federal Government to diversify the economy through agriculture. Endit