Osun Rounds Off Language Training For Germany-Bound Agric Trainees....Restates Need For Modern Technology To Boost Farming

The coast became clear for 20 Osun youths who have been selected for modern technology in agricultural practices in Germany as they rounded up their German Language training in Osogbo on Thursday.

The completion of the Language course meant under the supervision of a German Instructor, marked the end of the preparations for the journey aimed at producing the next set of technically skilled hands who would advance the state in its agricultural business enterprises.

The Government of Osun is living no stone unturned in its bid to boost agriculture and turn the state into the food basket of the nation and boost its revenues.

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The second batch of the 20 youths going to Germany in few months time were made to complete a class in German Language for the purpose of effective inter-personal communication of the youths while in Germany for the training.

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The advanced training in agriculture and food production technology will be taking place in the State of Saxony-Anhalt, Germany.

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The training is in continuation of government’s drive to revolutionise agriculture in the state under the Osun Rural Enterprise and Agriculture Programme (O’REAP) and boost food productions for local consumption as well as export.

The trainees, like the first set, will undergo a four-week intensive course in agricultural training school, where they will be exposed to the rudiments of modern agriculture and food crop production techniques.

This will also be followed by another weeks of attachment trainings under different large-scale co-operative farmers in Saxony-Anhalt to enable them to learn more and build on the assessed capacities and interests they have acquired during the first four weeks of training‎.

The Rauf Aregbesola administration, having realised that the only way to increase food production, eliminate poverty and boost the economy is engaging the youths of the state in agriculture, hence the need to send the youths to Germany.

Speaking shortly after rounding off the language training programme, the coordinator of the training programme, who is also the immediate past Senior Special Adviser on Quick Impact Intervention Programme, QUIIP, Mr. Dele Ogundipe, explained that serious agricultural development has always been the cardinal objective of the present administration.

He said because of the quest to develop agriculture in the state, the state Governor around May 2012 got in contact with the state of Saxony-Anhalt in Germany to be of assistance to the state in the area of agricultural development.

He noted that the Saxony-Anhalt state agreed to the arrangement because of the performance of the Ogbeni Aregbesola administration in the area agriculture having sent a delegation of eleven to Osun which went round the state visiting various farms and having consultations with various stakeholders in agriculture programmes.

Ogundipe stated that the students have been thought the rudiments of German language in relation to agriculture, adding that language department at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife has also been engaged to train the youths for two months on German language.

Dwelling on the benefits of the relationship between the State of Osun and the State of Saxony-Anhalt in Germany, the coordinator noted that it is not common for any state to have a bilateral relationship with any state in the Republic of Germany.

He explained that the German delegation was impressed with the agricultural programmes they met in Osun that they decided that they will establish the best practice of farm for Osun which will help boost food production in the state.

He added that at a time that the nation is passing through hard times in the economy, it is therefore a good move by the state government to expose Osun youths to the most modern agricultural techniques in the world.

Ogundipe said, "What the State of Osun is doing in the agriculture sector is very lofty and helpful to Nigeria as a country. If you train one youth to be good in agriculture you are training the world. How much more when the state is investing in the training of over 40 youths on modern ways of agriculture.

"We are looking at a situation whereby when the youths come back from Germany we can be attaching them with the appropriate intervention programmes of the federal government and our own state here.

"One of the cardinal objectives of this administration after coming into power in 2010 is to embark on serious agricultural development even when oil was still booming at that time. It means that Ogbeni Rauf Areggesola has been very proactive.

"The youths traveling to Germany have been trained on the ridument of German language and German language in agriculture so as to aid their assimilation and participation while in Germany.

"The first batch of Osun youths went to Germany in August of 2013 and came back in November the same year. The second batch were supposed to go in 2014 but were delayed because of the need to improve on the language more than the first batch and the issue of Ebola. They will be leaving this July," Ogundipe said.

The German language instructor training the youths who is the fourth instructor to come to the state of Osun for the purpose, Mr. Ronald Kley, expressed delight at the level of understanding and assimilation of the youths, while also lauding the efforts of the state government for the initiative.

"It has been a worthwhile experience so far, the students performance have been very encouraging and I can say that they fully ready to go to Germany and learn modern techniques in agriculture which will help the state.

"It is good that they are going to Germany to learn new things and new experience on their own. We have talked about many things in Germany like animal livestock, pig farming technique and how to live and stay in my country, knowing what is forbidden and what's allowed" Kley said.

One of the youths, Miss Olanibi Comfort from Atakumosa East Local Government described the programme as one that will go a long way in taking the jobless youths off the streets and find something worthwhile doing in the area of agriculture.

‎"I am so delighted to be a part of this programme because it will continue to change my life for the better. The programme will go a long way in taking many jobless youths off the streets and put something worthwhile in their

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Another beneficiary, Mr. Adebayor Waheed thanked the administration of Ogbeni Aregbesola for giving out the rare opportunity to the youths of the state, saying it is a programme which Nigerian leaders should embrace and emulate in whole.

He added that the programme will surely guarantee food security which will help to solve many challenges the nation is facing as a result of the dwindling oil revenue the country os facing.

"We have so many graduates out there without jobs, I suggest that everybody should go back to the farm, because it is the only solution to the many problems we are facing as a nation"