Pathways to prosperity: YAS project onboards 40 Abuja youth in new aquaculture and horticulture agri-parks

4 November 2024

The Federal Capital Territory hub of the YAS project has inaugurated its aquaculture and horticulture agri-parks. At the event held in September, 40 trained beneficiaries were onboarded, comprising 17 horticulture and 23 aquaculture incubator trainees.

The facilities at the agri-park include tarpaulin ponds, fish processing equipment, and a greenhouse for horticulture. Furthermore, the project provided all the input needed for production and processing at the two facilities. These include 5,300 fingerlings. However, moments after the launch, aquaculture trainees commenced fish smoking while horticulture trainees began nursery establishment for habanero and bell peppers (green to yellow and green to red).

The beneficiaries applauded the initiative, which, they said would promote experiential learning in the commodities and value chains in which they were trained.

Though the enterprises are for administrative and operational purposes, jointly owned by the project and the beneficiaries, they were charged with running them profitably. They are also expected to develop

feasible business plans as individuals or groups. Afterward, some of the proceeds from the enterprises will be shared among the beneficiaries as seed capital for their respective agribusiness enterprises.

In addition, a reward system has been established for participants who demonstrate commitment through attendance, active participation in the hub's activities, and demonstration of improved knowledge.

In her remarks, the Head of IITA Abuja Station, Beatrice Aighewi, congratulated the beneficiaries for being part of the first cohort. She charged them to take advantage of the facilities to boost their technical and business capacities, stressing that there are many rewarding opportunities in agriculture for those willing to go through the process.

Contributed by Babatunde Ajaja