FGN/IFAD-VCDP graduates youths fabricators in Taraba
By Martins Abochol
The Taraba Government in collaboration with the Federal Government and International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)’s Value Chain Development Programme (VCDP) has graduated a set of youth fabricators in the state.
Mr Irimiya Musa, VCDP State Programme Coordinator (SPC) while speaking at the event on Friday in Jalingo, said the training was one of the critical components of the programme.
He urged the participants to enhance their skills in the agricultural mechanisation drive of both the state and the federal governments.
Mrs Altine James, Rural Institutions, Gender and Youth Mainstreaming Officer (RIGYMO) of the VCDP in Taraba State, said the programme had the mandate to include women and youths, targeted in its implementation programme.
She said the programme had developed an enterprise model along with the value chain of rice and cassava.
According to her, the aim was to enhance production, processing and marketing as well as to increase wealth for the youth and women.
She noted that the programme had collaborated with the Taraba State Polytechnic Suntai in the provision of basic training on fabrication to the youth.
Mrs Altine James said the youth engaged had developed their skills and have updated their knowledge through the refresher trainings.
“Some of the youths, who are already engaged in production, processing and marketing activities have indicated their interest in our value chain programme.
” We had first collaborated with the Taraba State Polytechnic, who gave them basic training on youth fabrication.
” We have now brought them to a refresher training in which they have just completed.
“The aim is for them to learn more skills and update their knowledge and they were tasked in producing a rice thresher.
“They have designed and have fabricated it and have added value, such that it has been given very unique features.
“It is one that can thresh two bags within one hour, it doesn’t need large space in oparating and is using diesel.
“This particular machine has unique components and can be manufactured within the community.
“This therefore, is bringing agro processing, equipment and mechanisation very close to the rural people.
“Our aim and mandate is to ensure that mechanisation gets to the rural areas such that can make agriculture very attractive, especially to the women and youth, James said.
Mr Dangana Agabi, one of the participants and a manufacturer of rice thresher in Wukari, commended VCDP for building his technological skills in the production of machines.
Mr Agabi said the refresher training has also improved his skills, especially in value addition in the production of rice threshers.
Mr Nasiru Sulaiman, a producer of gas cylinder in Jalingo, thanked the VCDP for the refresher training.
Mr Sulaiman said the training would go along way in diversifying his skills in the manufacturing industry.
He explained that he had achieved another skill in the production of rice thresher which was a plus to his business.
