The federal government has flagged off a three-day training of youths and women in the eleven autonomous communities of Nkporo ancient kingdom in Abia State on cassava processing and value chain addition as part of efforts to reduce poverty in the rural communities.
Flagging of the training programme yesterday at Ugwujimba Hall Etitiama Nkporo, the House of Representatives Chairman on Agriculture, Hon. Mohammed Monguno, said the exercise was initiated by his committee to empower rural youths and women.
He said the exercise which was in line with the transformation agenda of the federal government in the agric sector would further help to ensure food security in the country and boost export of farm produce.
Monguno who was represented by the Committee’s Clerk, Rev. Moses Akuma, said participants would receive cash grants at the end of the training to enable them start off personal businesses, and enjoined the beneficiaries to maximize the opportunity.
He said participants would be trained on processing of cassava into finished products like bread, chin chin, cakes and other delicacies, adding that over 50 youths were targeted at the first phase of the programme.
In her address at the event, the Chief Executive of Agricultural and Rural Management Training Institute, Ilorin, Dr. Mrs. Comfort Jolayemi, said the project was one of the several projects by ARTIM to facilitate rapid development of rural communities in Nigeria.
The ARTIM boss who was represented by a Management Development Officer in the institute, Mr. Abiodun Olasore, said Nkporo was selected for the project because “it is one of the leading cassava producing communities in Abia State”, adding that it will help creat more jobs among the youths.
She explained that the choice of cassava for the exposition was because of its numerous value chain and high yield, stressing that many rural farmers can cross poverty line if they are properly exposed to how they can convert cassava into other products.
