An agricultural expert, Professor Veronica Obatolu has given reasons why many youths in the country run away from the farm.
Obatolu made this known on Tuesday while addressing journalists during a press conference in Ibadan, Oyo State.
The Agric Professor, who doubles as Executive Director of the Institute of Agricultural Research and Training (IAR&T) Ibadan, attributed the trend to the way Agriculture is practised in Nigeria.
The professor of human nutrition lamented that many youths are leaving the villages and rural areas for better lives in the cities.
She said, “Why youths are not interested in agriculture. It is because of the way we are practising agriculture.
“Youths are not interested in farming because of the way we practice agriculture in Nigeria”.
Obatolu advised youths and other unemployed Nigerians to embrace modern techniques in farming to address some of the challenges they may be facing.
She added that as part of efforts to ensure food sufficiency in the country, the institute recently developed five crop varieties.
“But, now we have new technologies. You do not have to be on the farm before you can be a farmer.
“Precisely, on the 12th January 2022, another feat in this regard was recorded by the institute with the release of five (5) newly developed crop varieties to Nigerian farmers.
“These technologies are of enormous potentials in the attainment of industrial growth, economic diversification and attainment of food and nutritional security”.
Why young people run away from farming – Agric expert
