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By Doris Esa
A National Youth Service Corps member serving in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr John Ayomipo, has trained and empowered 50 women and youths in organic farming in Wassa Community.
The training, held on Friday in Wassa Community and Wassa Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) Camp Apo, Abuja, was part of his Community Development Service project the “Green Futures”.
The project was carried out in collaboration with the Heinrich Boell Foundation Nigeria, Be The Help Foundation (BHF) and Alliance for Action on Pesticides in Nigeria (AAPN).
Speaking on the occasion, Ayomipo said that the three-day training project represented his Primary Service-Year commitment to NYSC, SDG and Community Development (CDS) platform.
“The three-day training will empower 50 women and youths to grow their own food organically without the use of Highly Hazardous Pesticides (HHPs), or Hybrid GMO seeds through organic farming techniques (vertical gardening and sack farming), composting and natural pest control,” he said.
He explained that the aim of the project is to train the community on how they could grow their food organically without the use of hazardous pesticides.
“I am trying to build that capacity, I am here to educate them on sustainable organic farming practices in collaboration with the Be The Help Foundation.
“The event is majorly more of advocacy and capacity building, especially of women and youths in Wassa Community and Wassa IDP Camp, making sure that they can grow their food organically without the use of hazardous pesticides.
“I am also collaborating on this training with Alliance for Action on Pesticide in Nigeria (AAPN) to ensure that people are knowledgeable about the dangers of pesticides and also how to grow food,” he said.
Ayomipo said the community would be trained on urban farming practices, sack farming, and vertical farming.
He said that the initiative directly advances Sustainable Development Goals SDG 1, No poverty, SDG2 Zero Hunger, SDG5 Gender Equality, SDG11 Sustainable Cities and Communities and SDG 13 Climate Action.
“This project strengthens local food systems and demonstrates how NYSC programme empowers youths to create climate friendly community–driven solutions,” he said.
Ayomipo said that starter kits such as manure, tomato, corn, sweet potatoe seedlings and other crop seedlings would be distributed to the community.
Mr Donald Ofoegbu, Senior Programme Manager, Heinrich Boell Foundation Nigeria, who praised Ayomipo for initiating the programme, expressed delight because the initiative is youth–led.
“I am very happy and that’s why I could drive the distance to also be here to witness this. We are committed to this initiative and this would not just stop at just these few trainings,” he said.
In his presentation, Ofoegbu urged the community to stop the use of HHPs and embrace organic farming practices for its health benefits as well as improved nutrition.
In his remark, the Chairman, IDP Camp, Wassa, Mr Geoffrey Bitrus, expressed happiness that Ayomipo had chosen Wassa Community IDPs for his community service project.
“Today’s programme brings joy to our own community at large because this is a wonderful initiative. We thank the organisers for this support,” he said.
Village Head, Chetta Wassa, Mr Danjuma Kabari, who applauded the initiative, said the gesture would help improve the farming practices of the community.
A beneficiary, Miss Chidinma Nnaemeka, thanked the organisers for the training, saying that she would put the knowledge to use when farming.
“We are happy to be taught how to farm organically for healthy living,” she said.
Another beneficiary, Aisha Amadu, equally thanked the organisers of the event for the intervention.
“We are happy and excited that they have come here to train us on organic farming practices as well as empower us,” she said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the training featured sustainable urban farming techniques, organic pest control, and organic manure as well as land advocacy for communal farming. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Joseph Edeh
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