AMNESTY BENEFICIARIES ASKED TO EXPLOIT GOLDMINE IN POULTRY FARMING

Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta and Coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, Brigadier General Paul Boroh (Rtd) has called on beneficiaries undergoing refresher training programmes in agriculture to exploit what he described as “goldmine” in poultry farming, adding that his office would empower the trained delegates to become agricultural entrepreneurs as part of efforts to maintain peace and stability in the Niger Delta region.

Gen. Boroh regretted that though there was high local demand for poultry products in Nigeria, with huge income potentials for local poultry production, supply has been low, saying that the “Amnesty office wants to fill the gap by training beneficiaries to be in a position to explore the amazing opportunities in poultry farming as agricultural entrepreneurs in this potentially lucrative market for chicken and eggs in the Niger Delta region”.

The Amnesty boss who was represented by a staff of the Post Training Unit of the Amnesty office, Mr. Benjamin Appah, at a two weeks refresher empowerment training programme in poultry farming, for eighteen Amnesty delegates at Glassfa Premi Hotels, Warri-Delta State on Friday, assured the beneficiaries of getting their empowerment packages at the end of the training.

In his remarks, the vendor and managing director of Glassfa Continental Limited, Evangelist Samson Fetimi, commended the Special Adviser to the President and Coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, Brigadier General Boroh (rtd) for his foresight in engaging the beneficiaries in poultry farming, adding that the beneficiaries were undergoing a two weeks refresher course that will prepare them to start own poultry farms.

He said, as part of the contract, his company will assist the beneficiaries to register their business names, in addition to setting up their poultry farms and mentor them over a period of time to enable them stabilize in the business, informing that they were also being taught business management and entrepreneurship.

Managing Director of Vivoch Farms limited, (the proprietor of the demonstration farm being used for the practical training) Mrs. Vivien Ekamah, said the possibilities of poultry farming and its ability to totally change lives among the youths in the Niger Delta were endless, noting that the profit potentials of poultry business will best be achieved where the owners are directly involved.

According to her, a poultry farmer can start with 100 birds to minimize risk and allow for relevant experience before expansion, just as she advised the Amnesty beneficiaries to avoid the temptation of starting off with a huge flock without prior experience in poultry farming.

Speaking on behalf of their colleagues, Mr. Sabena Fidelis and Florence Eyengho, from Ogbudugbudu community in Edo state, expressed appreciation to federal government for the refresher course, just as they appealed to the Amnesty office to live up to its earlier promise of setting up poultry farms for them after the training.

It will be recalled that every year, the African continent imports more than two million metric tons of poultry products valued at nearly US$3 billion to meet domestic demand.

Senior reintegration officer, Mr Jude Gbaboyor and the Liaison officer, Piriye Kiyaramo, from the media department and a resource person were on ground to sensitize the trainees.

Highpoint of the sensitization programme at the farm was a lecture titled, fundamentals of growth, delivered by a resource person, Mr. Carter Charles Jr.

Facts Compile/Written By Gbaboyor Jude & Piriye Kiyaramo

For Head, Media and Communication Department

July 28, 2017