Minister supports rural youth in agribusiness
In a bid to reduce youth unemployment in the country, Minister of Sports and Youth Development Grace Chiumia has pledged support to young innovative farmers engaged in commercial farming.
The minister, through the Lilongwe District Council, has since donated bags of groundnuts and soy, each weighing 30 kilogrammes (kgs), to youth clubs in all the 18 traditional authorities (T/As) in the district.
Chiumia said engaging the youth in agribusiness will not only reduce poverty, but also remove the dependency syndrome.
She was speaking at Mwatibu Centre in Nathenje, Lilongwe in T/A Chadza’s area after donating the seeds to 12 youth clubs around the area.
Said Chiumia: “We are empowering young people across the nation through various programmes such as agricultural initiatives. There is a lot of land staying idle in our villages. We want youths to utilise this land and support themselves and their families.”
“The minister also said Universal Industries and Chibuku Products Limited (CPL) are among companies that have expressed interest to buy the produce from the youth.
Chairperson of Msozi-Nathenje Youth Network Enock Karonga acknowledged government efforts to uplift the youth in the country.
“This will not only promote individual development. Our villages and districts will also be transformed,” he said.
Lilongwe district youth officer Allida Mazungwi said over 220 youth clubs have benefited from the initiative, which will be rolled out to other districts shortly.
