The permanent secretary, Taraba State Ministry of Agriculture, Mr. Isaac Mela, yesterday, said the N2 billion Green House project of the state government has so far engaged 200 youths.
Mela disclosed this at the fifth edition of “Face the Press” aninitiative of the Senior Special Assistant to Governor Darius Ishaku on Public Affairs, Mr. Emmanuel Bello.
The initiative is aimed at enhancing transparency, accountability and good governance through a weekly interaction between government officials and the media.
Mela explained that government had sourced the funds for the project from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
He noted that apart from employment and the supply of qualitative vegetables to Nigerians, the project would also serve as centre for practical for students studying agriculture in higher institutions in the country.
Mela also said the state government’s partnership with the International Funds for Agricultural Development (IFAD) had yielded great results in terms of access road to farms and a boost in the production of rice and cassava.
He noted that IFAD had constructed a total of 25 kilometers of access roads linking farming areas in Gassol, Wukari and Karim Lamido local government areas of the state. He said that the state government’s partnership with IFAD is one of the best things that happened to farmers in the state.