-By Gertrude Onyekachukwu-UTEH:

ODU UNUAKPOREGBETAYE SUNDAY began his farm business as a local farmer before his enrolment in the Delta State Government’s Youth Agricultural Entrepreneurs Programme (YAGEP) in the 2017/2018 cycle. He hails from Okpe Local Government Area and is the Chairman of Odu Fish Farm Multipurpose Cooperative Society Ltd, a subsidiary of Odu Technical Resources Enterprise located at YAGEP Fish Farm, Ugbokodo-Okpe.

Though his initial start-up ponds collapsed, he was not discouraged. Rather, through personal effort, he developed new ponds and used his start-up fish feeds to stock fresh juveniles. At present, he has 16 giant earthen fish ponds within the cluster. He co-opted other fish farmers to register his farm as a cooperative society. Hear him.

“The job creation YAGEP is a commendable agricultural policy any government can make in the interest of its youths, especially those who are success driven. The two fish ponds allocated to me collapsed, but I saw the challenge as an opportunity to develop mine. I developed seven 20 X 40 feet ponds; four 50 X 50 ponds, and five 30 X 40 ponds.

“I used the feeds given to me as a start-up to feed the fish I bought when my ponds collapsed. The demand for fish is high. Therefore, more youths should be engaged in Fish Production to meet market demand for fish. I have also diversified into cassava farming and building technology.

“Recently I was one of the outstanding YAGEP beneficiaries that received a cash award of ₦.5M from Governor Okowa. This will grow our enterprises and in the long run, help the Governor realize his overall objective of initiating YAGEP.”