Beneficiaries of the modern agribusiness skills organized by the member representing Riyom/Barkin-Ladi Federal Constituency of Plateau State in the House of Representatives, Dr. Simon Mwadkwon have expressed their gratitude on receiving the training as it has equipped them with requisite skills in agribusiness to become economically self-reliance.
No fewer than 600 beneficiaries who are part of his constituents stated this at the end of a two-day training held in Barkin-Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State, which took place on Friday and Saturday 14th and 15th respectively.
Mrs. Mary Gyang, one of the trainees described the training as a soothing balm that will address their excruciating pains due to the current biting economic hardship in the country.
“This training has equipped me with skills in agribusiness to initiate a business for myself, I have learned a lot and the knowledge acquired will be properly put into use for economic self-reliance and the prosperity of my family; I am very grateful to Hon. Simon Mwadkwon for organizing this training.
“This has helped me acquire new farming techniques and skills and will make my farming more profitable and yielding.”
Another beneficiary, Alhaji Muhammad Muhammad re-echoed the benefits of the training and described the exercise apt and as timely in boosting their agricultural activities.
Muhammad explained that the training is greater than the financial resources that the Reps member would have offered them considering the benefits of the skill, that if properly put into use will enable them to establish a business that will make them financially self-reliance.
In his remark, Hon. Mwadkwon who was represented by his Senior Legislative Aid, Mr. Daniel Jackson said the target beneficiaries of the training were women and youths to venture into agribusiness and become self-reliant.
He explained that he has a lot of experience and passion for farming, knowing fully well that the majority of his constituents were farmers.
“The training program is organized for the people of the constituency to acquire new skills to improve from subsistence farming to commercial farming.
“Last year we trained over 500 people, this year we have trained over 600. Our target is youth and women because a lot of our youths that are graduates anticipate jobs from the government without success.
“We have sensitized and encouraged them to venture into farming and by the grace of God, a lot of them have gainfully engaged themselves into farming,” he said.
Mwadkwon said that the beneficiaries would be given starter packs and cash to enable them to start their businesses.
He assured them that he would further assist those who established their businesses and were thriving to expand them.
The CEO of CAH Consultancy Limited, Mr. Iliyasu Manu said that the beneficiaries were trained in different areas of agriculture including fishery, piggery, fattening of animals, poultry, and crop farming.
Manu who assembled the resource persons said that they made sure that the beneficiaries learn a lot about what they intend to go in for as far as agribusiness is concerned.
“The purpose is for them to know what to do before they go in for the business and to let them know how it is conducted.
“Let them know how it is taken care of not just going into business without any background knowledge of what it takes to take care of the business. This is imperative because if you don’t have the knowledge, you’re just starting and failing at the same time,” he explained.
