Amnesty Office to train 500 e-agitators on Agriculture

Amnesty Office to train 500 e-agitators on Agriculture
... says solution to economic problem lies in youth



The Presidential Amnesty Office says it will commence training in two weeks time for 500 ex-agitators on modern bio-technology at agricultural research institute, NBDA, in Odi, Bayelsa state.

 The Special Adviser to the Presidential Amnesty Programme, Brig. Gen. Paul Boroh (Rtd) announced the plan on Tuesday, while briefing newsmen on the activities of the amnesty programme.

 Gen. Boroh informed that the training will focus on research and modern agricultural concepts, different from the conventional agricultural method that can develop the capacity of the trainees to becoming mega farmers and employers of labour.

He said that the initiative was in line with the federal government’s Green Initiative with the aim of diversifying the nation’s economy from a mono economy to agriculture and solid mineral base.

According to him, the focus on agriculture was also informed by the desire to create wealth, jobs, opportunities, food production and as a way of reintegration of the former Niger Delta fighters.

‘‘I went to Odi  to discuss issues with the Director General of the National Bio Resource Development centre to discuss modality to train ex agitators in the area of modernised agriculture.

‘‘ He mentioned to me that they have the capacity to train 500 ex- agitators in Odi and this 500 ex-agitators would be drawn not only from Bayelsa state but also from Niger Delta states because they will be very many. 
‘‘The modality for that training is ongoing, in about 2 weeks time, we should commence the training. 

‘‘ It is going to be an encompassing training on agriculture because the amnesty office is keyed into the national agriculture programme Known as the National Green Alternative Initiative and the aim of this initiative is  in line with  the present diversification of the economy from oil from mono economy to agriculture and solid mineral.’’

Gen. Boroh, who expressed confident in the ability of the youth,  said that the  shift to agriculture was based on its capacity as a mechanism for the country’s resolution of the present economic meltdown.

He maintained that agriculture can accommodate a very large number of persons at a time to be engage in farms, adding that the ex-agitators are going to learn farm techniques and methods of fish farming,  snailing,  plantain farming, grass-cutter farming, mush room farming, soap and detergent making.
By Emmanuel Elebeke & Susan Onuorji

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