By Emem Idio

AS part of efforts to boost food security and create employment for youths, the Bayelsa State Government has pledged to continue its partnership with the International Food for Agriculture, IFAD, funded Livelihood Improvement Family Enterprise Project for  Niger Delta, LIFE-ND.

State Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Prof. Beke Sese, stated this in Yenagoa, yesterday, during the presentation of cheques to over 2,000 beneficiaries of the programme to start-up their own farm enterprise.

Sese, who lauded the programme’s commitment to ensure that the rural dwellers experience prosperity, noted that since the inception of the programme five years ago, it has significantly contributed to enhance the income of young persons, women and people living with disabilities as well as address food security.

He said: “For those of you who are looking at the direction of the government of the day in Bayelsa State,  if you look at the body language and pronouncement of the governor and if you are also conversant with the new ASSURED prosperity agenda, agricultural revolution and the Blue Economy is given top emphasis.

In his speech,the State Coordinator of LIFE-ND, Dr Paniebi Ugo, said the agriculture mentorship programme for youths, which has been ongoing in Bayelsa, since February 2020, for young people between the ages of 18 to 35 is that the trainees are assigned to an established farm where they will be trained and mentored.

He said so far over 4,300 beneficiaries have been impacted by the project from inception till date,.adding that the working capital is to enable the young farmers to start up their own farms under the mentorship of their master trainers.

“LIFE-ND an IFAD assisted project has as its objectives, to increase income, guarantee food security and create jobs for youths, women and people living with disabilities and this is the fifth batch of graduands.”