At least 50, 000 farmers in Ogun State, especially youths would benefit from the second phase of the Ogun State Broiler Project, the state government has announced.

Ogun State Commissioner for Agriculture,  Adeola Odedina made the disclosure at Eweje Farm Settlement during the flag off of the second phase of the Project.

According to the commissioner, over 9,000 youths have registered with the state Ministry of Agriculture to participate in the second phase.

Odedina said 54 youths in the first phase of the project raised a total of 54, 000 broilers from which they made an average profit of N130, 000 in six weeks.

He added that land preparations for over 23,000 youths who had registered for cassava production had commenced.

He further disclosed that the state was collaborating with the Central Bank’s agro-processing firms and other relevant stakeholders to advance into various agricultural productions including poultry, cassava, rice millet and maize.

“We have been very successful in raising young people as pilots to introduce or stimulate the interest of other young people in the poultry value chain,” he said

The commissioner further explained that over 110,000kg of broiler meat was expected to be obtained from the second lap, adding that the production would help to reduce demand for foreign poultry products.

He said, “We have been reliably informed by the youths themselves that in this round, they are targeting over N200,000 in six weeks.

“These youths are supposed to go for four rounds or five, every six weeks and each beneficiary would be earning about N150,000.

“We are going to replicate this in all the agricultural zones in the state. We have the applications already and we are working on the pens.”

SOURCE: AGRONIGERIA