The Ebonyi State government has said that it had concluded arrangements for the training of 2,600 volunteer farmers in commercial farming.
The state Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources,Mr Romanus Nwasum, told journalists in Abakaliki that the volunteer farmers would be drawn from the 13 local government areas of the state.
''The youth volunteer farmers will be trained on various techniques involved in modern agricultural practices as well as get exposed to the new technology involved in the business.''
He said that government was hoping that the skills acquired would assist them to embrace commercial farming.
''This initiative is in line with the state government's transformation agenda in the agricultural sector of the economy and it is designed to encourage youths to venture into commercial farming.
''More so, the training will develop their capacity and enhance their skills for self-reliance as well as make them become employers of labour,'' Nwasum said.
He added that it would also expose them to different branches of agricultural production such as rice farming, animal husbandry, fishery, bee-keeping, snail-rearing and piggery, among others.
The commissioner said that the initiative was part of the government's transformation agenda in the agriculture sector of the economy, adding that, it was aimed at boosting food production in the state.
He described commercial agriculture as a lucrative business and called on the youth to develop interest in farming to improve their revenue base with a view to boosting the nation's economy.
