By Gertrude Onyekachukwu-Uteh
A beneficiary of the Delta State Youth Agricultural Entrepreneurship Programme (YAGEP), Chike Uriah, has commended the State government, describing the YAGEP programme as an “excellent agricultural policy”.
Uriah, who hails fromOshimili south local government area of the state, is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Nellsvile Enterprise.
He got enrolled in YAGEP in the 2017/2018 Cycle, has done exceedingly well after three years, as he has increased the number of his ponds from three to 14.
He has equally acquired more equipment through a Central Bank agricultural loan, bought a plot of land for his permanent site and is currently a trainee of the Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF).
Speaking on his success, he said: “I am three years in Fish Production. I have 5,500 fish and 14 tarpaulin fish tanks. The progress has been slow but steady. I applied for Central Bank agric. loan immediately I got started up by the State Government.
“Though the process was rigorous, yet I got the approval for equipment as in 3 tarpaulin fish tanks of 10 X 15 feet, a 7.2 KVA generator, 2,000 fingerlings and 160 bags of fish feeds to bring them to table size. I have acquired a land for my permanent site. To crown it all, I am a trainee of the TEF.
*Apart from fish farming, I am in the process of acquiring skill in Website Designing. My interest is in Agricultural Technology with special focus on applications in farming. I want to develop software for record keeping and financial record in agriculture. I can be reached @ nellsvilefarms on Facebook and Instagram.
“YAGEP is an excellent agricultural policy of the State Government that needs to be sustained. To me, it is 90% successful. It is a business and every business needs sustainability, both financially and materially.
“As start-ups, we need to be nurtured for five years till we are very firm. Government is trying its best, but needs to try more in the area of public private partnership to boost the production of animal feeds because of high cost of feeds”.
He is a round peg in a round hole having studied Agric Economics from the University of Benin.
Interacting with him, one could see a young man who understood his passion, who has been able to apply all knowledge acquired, knew how best to source for funds and what he hoped to achieve with it.
