Stakeholders in the agricultural sector have urged young people to engage in farming, citing its potential to boost the economy, create jobs, and generate income.

At the International Youth Day 2024 event in Ibadan, Dr Simeon Ehui, director general, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), said modern agriculture offered numerous opportunities for youths to become employers.

Mr Ehui, who was represented by Dr Chrysantus Akem, the coordinator, Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation, IITA, emphasised the need for digital methods in farming, assuring that IITA would raise awareness on embracing new technologies.

Also, Noel Mulinganya, team lead, ENABLE TAAT Project, IITA Youth in Agriculbusiness Office, noted that facilities to encourage agriculture were under-utilised due to youths finding farming unattractive.

He, however, said that youths were being engaged and equipped to make them self-employed farmers after training, assuring that the initiative was committed to revamping the agricultural sector in the country.

Yemisi Iranloye, CEO Psaltey International Limited, said technological innovations were changing the perception of agriculture as a demanding and low-return occupation.

However, this perception, according to her, is changing with the rise of technological innovations and increased awareness.

“As youths, you can leverage your position in this digital age to revolutionise agriculture with tools like drones, sensors, software, and greenhouse technology”.

Dolapo Ogunsola, director of youth empowerment, AALI, commended IITA for bringing agricultural innovation closer to the people.

Olasunkanmi Olaleye, Oyo state commissioner for agriculture, emphasised the crucial role of youths in developing agriculture and adopting mechanised farming methods.

“With the daily geometrical increase in population, we cannot afford to depend on the ageing farmers and crude way of cultivation, but to key into mechanised farming that is making use of digital technologies.

“Most developed nations have adopted the use of drones, robots and the likes in carrying out most farming operations such as planting, herbicide applications in the face of surging population to feed.”

(NAN)