Taraba Unveils 10,000-Hectare Youth Farm Estate to Boost Food Production, Create Jobs
The Taraba State Government has announced plans to establish a 10,000-hectare youth agricultural cluster estate as part of efforts to expand food production, create employment and position young people as key players in the state’s agricultural economy.
The Special Adviser to Governor Agbu Kefas on Agriculture and Food Security, Hon. Zanau Hassan Maikasuwa, disclosed this in Jalingo while speaking on activities marking the 2026 International Youth Day.
Maikasuwa said the proposed farm estate would be developed with modern agricultural equipment and production techniques, with youths expected to constitute the largest beneficiaries.
He explained that participating youths would be allocated between two and three hectares each, enabling them to engage in commercial farming and establish sustainable sources of income.
According to him, the initiative forms part of the state government’s broader youth empowerment strategy aimed at reducing unemployment, strengthening food security and making agriculture more attractive to young people.
300 Youths Trained in Agriculture
The Special Adviser said the government had already invested in agricultural training and capacity development as part of its youth empowerment programme.
He disclosed that about 300 Taraba youths were trained in Keffi, Nasarawa State, last year in areas including crop production, livestock farming and animal husbandry.
He added that the government this year sponsored another 30 youths to India for specialised training in crop production.
Maikasuwa expressed optimism that the beneficiaries of the international training would return with improved technical expertise and apply their knowledge to enhance agricultural productivity and services across the state.
Government Targets Commercial Agriculture
The Special Adviser said the administration was working to change the perception of agriculture from subsistence farming to a profitable commercial venture capable of providing employment and improving household incomes.
He said the government’s long-term ambition was to transform Taraba into one of Nigeria’s leading food-producing states and ultimately position it as an agricultural exporter.
According to him, the initiative is being implemented under the Taraba State Agricultural and Rural Development Scheme, with emphasis on modern farming methods, youth participation and increased agricultural productivity.
He maintained that investing in young people was critical to the state’s economic future, particularly because of the significant role youths already play in the agricultural sector.
Executive Orders on Thuggery, Drug Abuse, Illegal Mining
Commenting on the three executive orders recently issued by the Taraba State Government to address thuggery, drug abuse and illegal mining, Maikasuwa described the measures as timely and commendable.
He said the measures would help protect young people from activities capable of destroying their future while creating a safer environment for them to pursue education, entrepreneurship and agriculture.
The Special Adviser urged Taraba youths to take advantage of the opportunities provided by the government and avoid activities that could undermine their future.
He reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to youth empowerment, agricultural development and food security, stressing that the success of the programmes would depend largely on the willingness of young people to embrace productive opportunities and contribute to the development of the state.
