How YAGEP helped me expand my farm - Lokosi ~ Truth Reporters

By Gertrude Onyekachukwu-Uteh

VICTOR TAMARAKE-PREYE LOKOSI is a graduate of Political Science, but took to farming as an occupation when he could not secure a job. He hails from Patani Local Government Area and enrolled into the Delta State Youth Agricultural Entrepreneurs Programme (YAGEP) in the 2018/2019 cycle under the Brown YAGEP category as an already existing farmer.

He is the CEO of Lovita Salvation Farm. He produces cassava and plantain. He received government’s support in Cassava Production. His story:

“Nigeria is not favourable job-wise. To engage myself meaningfully, I took to farming cassava and plantain in commercial quantities. I cultivated cassava in a three and half acre land, after I received farm input from the job creation bureau.

“At maturity, I sold them off and used the money to acquire another land, four acres size in order to increase my production. Farming is lucrative. I also have 2,000 plantain stands and I am about to plant additional 5,000 suckers which I bought recently. Agriculture is viable and I am proud to be a farmer.

“Agriculture is the way out of unemployment and poverty. I advise every Deltan whether employed or unemployed to own a small farm. In that way, food security is assured for all families.

“I appreciate Governor Ifeanyi Okowa for initiating YAGEP and for coming down to the grassroots during the selection process. If not, I would not have benefitted from the programme.”