The Anambra State government is taking a big step to help young people get involved in farming with the launch of the Anambra Community Young Farmers Forum (ACYFF), a new project aimed at improving food production in the state.
On the weekend of February 15-16, 2025, the forum was officially launched at the Government House in Awka. Dr. Foster Ihejiofor, the state’s Commissioner for Agriculture, kicked things off by praising the initiative, which was set up with help from the Anambra State Association of Town Unions (ASATU) Youth Wing, led by Ken Okoli. This move is part of Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s plan to make Anambra more self-sufficient in food.
“I commend ASATU Youth for their proactive efforts in creating this platform, and I promise that the government will fully support its growth,” Dr. Ihejiofor said during the event.
Ken Okoli also spoke about how the forum will benefit young farmers. “The platform will form a cooperative for members and collaborate with the Ministry of Agriculture. Membership is drawn from one person in each community as a coordinator, with each community having a platform for young farmers,” Okoli said.
The goal of the forum is to give young farmers the tools they need to increase food production, tackle food scarcity, and even explore opportunities to export their products. Okoli emphasized that it would be a place for youth to support sustainable farming while also working towards economic growth in the state.
This forum is expected to play a major role in Anambra’s efforts to be more self-sufficient in food, and it’s seen as an important way to get more young people into farming. The launch also saw the swearing-in of 12 new youth leaders who will work to ensure the forum’s success across different communities in Anambra.
