By Akinnodi Francis, Ondo

Stakeholders have said that hydroponic farming provides immense opportunities to meaningfully engage the youth, reduce unemployment, and drive positive change.

The stakeholders made the assertion in separate interviews with The Hope in Ondo.

An agricultural expert, Hon. Adeniyi Akinbinu, said that the level of unemployment globally had become worrisome and required collective efforts to tackle.

He said that youths could explore opportunities in agriculture and other sectors to overcome unemployment.

According to him, hydroponic farming would create opportunities for the employment of skilled labour.

He explained that hydroponic farming is a soilless method of farming, which eliminates issues such as soil erosion, degradation, and soil-borne diseases.

“On the implementation of precision farming techniques, we will be acquiring equipment that requires dedicated personnel to monitor anomalies in plant moisture content, pH levels, and nutrient content, among others.

“With increased yields, made possible by these techniques, comes the need for manpower for product sorting, packaging, and distribution.

“It will create job opportunities for artisans and salespeople. Also, the entire supply chain that facilitates distribution to more than 100 families will benefit,” he said.

Also, an entrepreneur, Henry Akinsipe, advised youths to take advantage of emerging technologies to develop their potential and contribute to societal development.

Akinsipe said that Artificial Intelligence (AI) presents opportunities for ground-breaking inventions in diverse fields.

He urged that AI should be properly harnessed.

“Generative AI and agents have shown the most penetration in the Nigerian context, and it is up to the youth and information technology stakeholders to dig in.

“I leverage my entrepreneurial acumen and tech know-how to create avenues for problem-solving and to ease the burden of unemployment.

“I urge other stakeholders to find solutions to close the gap of unemployment in Nigeria,” he said.