The youth in the agribusiness unit of IITA has provided employment opportunities for 500 youths along the dairy value chain in Adamawa State. The initiative, which was birth from the collaboration with Sebore International Farms, is targeted at unemployed young people in the state and aims to equip them with the technical and business skills required to thrive in the dairy sector.
The participants, who are the second cohorts of the initiative, will operate in various capacities in the communities. About 100 participants were trained as veterinary service providers who will render basic health services to dairy farmers and assist them with timely responses and first aid treatment for their cattle’s health-related challenges. Also, 300 youths were trained in dairy production and will supply milk to an established market in the state. The third category of youth who received training on feed and fodder production are expected to produce nutritious food for the cattle to improve their milk production.
While speaking during the participants’ graduation and input distribution ceremony, a representative of the Youth in Agribusiness unit, Adetola Adenmosun, mentioned that the initiative and collaboration with Sebore International Farms was to address some of the challenges faced by dairy farmers. According to her, the challenges include, but are not limited to, access to healthy cattle for quality milk and increased productivity, securing quality feed for optimal milk yield, and access to reliable veterinary services for health emergencies. While commending the youths for their resilience, she encouraged them to utilize the training and other resources provided to them to improve their businesses, livelihoods, and communities.
Also speaking at the event, the Managing Director of Sebore International Farm, Aminu Nyako, said it had become expedient to invest in the youth early enough to maximize their contributions to food security now and in the future.
“The future is the youths, and we must invest heavily right now to ensure that the youth have a place in dairy farming and agriculture in Adamawa State and the whole of Nigeria. For this reason, we ensured that the training and intervention by Sebore Farms in partnership with IITA are all-encompassing.”
“We have trained you, we have organized you into cooperatives, we have taught you how to take care of the cows, we have given you access to veterinary services, we have given you access to feed and fodder, how to cultivate the feed and fodder and access to market to sell your milk. This kind of intervention is completely end-to-end to integrate you into the dairy sector,” he added.
The District Head of Mayo-Belwa Community, Ardo Bamanga Dalil, congratulated the farmers, and commended the partners for their contribution to providing jobs for young people. “To our partners, your visionary leadership and unwavering support have created opportunities and instilled hope in the hearts of these young farmers and countless others who will benefit from their success. Like Oliver Twist, we humbly ask you to do more,” he said.
The event featured various sessions, including sensitization on financial inclusion and its crucial role in modern dairy agribusiness. Participants were also reminded of the best practices in modern dairy practices and veterinary care.
While applauding the intervention, one of the participants, Husseini Zakariyau, said, “Sebore Farms, in partnership with IITA, have invested their money, energy, and resources to provide training opportunities for us. The training was comprehensive; I learned how to identify illnesses in cattle, administer the proper medications, and apply treatments orally or through intravenous push (IV). This program gave us veterinary tool kits, enabling us to return to our communities and provide qualitative care for our cattle. I chose veterinary service to control common illnesses among our cattle, thereby helping my people and myself.”
Part of the input distributed to support the 500 farmers included the input of high-yielding cattle breeds, improved fodder varieties rich in nutrients, and essential veterinary care tool kits. The farmers were also organized into cooperatives based on their respective activities: 30 cooperatives for dairy producers, 10 for feed and fodder producers, and 10 for veterinary service providers. This structure ensures the businesses’ sustainability while strengthening members’ production capacity and profitability.
With improved cattle breeds, nutrient-rich fodder varieties, and essential veterinary tool kits now in their hands, these young farmers have been supported to significantly impact the dairy sector within Adamawa and the neighboring states.
Also, last year, about 300 farmers were trained in dairy production and supported with improved cattle breeds that can enhance milk production and supply.
For many of these young farmers, this initiative is a pathway to accessing dignified and fulfilling work, stability, and financial independence. With guaranteed access to the market through Sebore International Farms and strengthened production practices, these young dairy farmers are no longer at the mercy of fluctuating market conditions or outdated practices. Rather, they are becoming leaders in a growing dairy sector, contributing to food security, job creation, and economic development in Adamawa State. Their stories prove that with the right support, young people can redefine the future of agriculture.
Contributed by Jesutofunmi Robinson
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