A Nasarawa State-based youth organisation known as Activista has called for a robust collaboration with the state ministry of agriculture toward offering agricultural support services to end hunger and poverty among youths.

The state Coordinator of the group, which is an offshoot of the ActionAid, Anna Envoh, made the call on Saturday at a news briefing in Lafia, as part of its hunger-free Nigeria campaign.

According to Ms Envoh, the campaign is a youth-led initiative being championed by Activista, with support from ActionAid toward ending hunger and poverty in Nasarawa.

She said that several other civil society organisations such as the Young Men Christian Association, Civil Society Scaling Up Nutrition in Nigeria, Girls Get Equal and Advocacy for Women with Disability came out to lend their voices to the campaign.

She listed possible areas of collaboration with the ministry of agriculture to include: agriculture support services to small-scale farmers and formation of youth-friendly agricultural policies.

Other areas, she said, were increased investment in agriculture, improved food security and strengthening relationships with civil society organisations and youth movements, like Activista, to ensure that their voices were heard.

“We commend the efforts of the Nasarawa Government, particularly the ministry of agriculture, toward food security. However, we are seeking more collaboration in the following areas to benefit youths and achieve their goals. We demand that the ministry provides affordable fertiliser and support small-scale farmers, who are the backbone of our system, to increase productivity and income.

“We demand increased investment in agriculture, in the areas of irrigation, mechanisation and extension services, to increase productivity and efficiency of our farmers,” Ms Envoh said.

She urged the state government to make policies that would support youth participation in agriculture, including access to land, credit and markets to encourage young people to see farming as a viable career option.

“We demand that the ministry prioritises initiatives that would improve food security and nutrition, particularly for groups, such as women, children and the elderly, to ensure that everyone has access to safe and nutritious food,” she said.

Responding, the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Umaru Abdullahi, represented by Deputy Director, Extension, Lydia Kyari, said that the ministry was ready to support young people, who would want to venture into farming.

Mr Abdullahi said that the state government, under the leadership of Governor Abdullahi Sule placed high premium on agriculture and food security.

He also said that the government had been supporting farmers with farm inputs.

“What I want to tell you is that you have come to the right place. We can assist you in many ways, through the supply of farm inputs, like fertilisers and seedlings, as far as you are ready for farming,” he said.

The campaign featured a road walk from Lafia City Stadium to the ministry’s office complex. Participants carried placards with various inscriptions, such as “Increase funding for agriculture,” “Everyone should have access to healthy food” and “Let’s build a nation, where no one goes to bed hungry,” amongst others.

(NAN)