Nwosu says YAGEP excellent Delta govts' agric policy for youths ~ Truth Reporters

 

By Gertrude Onyekachukwu-Uteh and Ese Laura Oghene

VOTARY EBUKE NWOSU hails from Aniocha North Local Government Area and is the CEO of Mmedu Ventures. He has an OND in Computer Engineering. He enrolled into the Delta State Youth Agricultural Entrepreneurs Programme (YAGEP) in the 2019/2020 cycle as a Brown YAGEP beneficiary in plantain production.

 

Then, he had only 60 plantain stands. As a support package to an already existing plantain farmer, he was given ₦320,000.00 for land preparation and to purchase plantain suckers for expansion, 14 bags of fertilizers and agrochemicals to eliminate pests and weeds. These he executed judiciously and are evident in the 700 plantain stands in his farm.

 

“I did not only plant 700 plantain suckers; I also planted maize sparingly since the suckers were small to occupy the space. I realized over ₦100,000.00 from the sales of maize last year. The plantain is doing well and are beginning to bear fruit. I hope to realize a minimum of half a million annually from the sales of plantain.

 

“YAGEP is an excellent agricultural policy of the State Government targeted at the youth. As you can see, I am not an idle youth. I am happy to have a farm; my entire family is. I have gone back to school for my HND and at the same time, I am a plantain farmer.”