The Plateau State Government has commenced the allocation of farm plots and planting activities for the 500 shortlisted beneficiaries of the Plateau Youth Agricultural Empowerment Programme (P-YAEP) Agro Partnership Programme (APP), marking the official transition of the programme into its implementation phase for the 2026 farming season.
The exercise took place at BARC Farms, Zallaki, Bassa Local Government Area, following the successful orientation and onboarding of participants. Beneficiaries initially assembled at Government College, Farin Gada, Jos, before proceeding to the farm, where they were allocated plots and immediately began planting under the supervision of programme officials, agricultural experts, and technical personnel.
The commencement of field activities represents a major milestone for one of the flagship agricultural empowerment initiatives of the administration of Governor Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang, reinforcing the government’s commitment to youth employment, food security, commercial agriculture, and sustainable economic development in Plateau State.
Speaking during the exercise, the Project Lead of P-YAEP, Mr. James Jan Diyong, described the commencement of planting as a significant step toward actualizing Governor Mutfwang’s vision of transforming agriculture into a viable engine for youth empowerment and economic prosperity.
He explained that the Agro Partnership Programme was intentionally designed to remove the major barriers that have historically discouraged young people from engaging in commercial agriculture by providing access to farmland, mechanized farming services, improved inputs, technical support, farm security, and continuous extension services throughout the production cycle.
According to him, the farm allocation process was carefully coordinated to ensure transparency, fairness, orderliness, and efficient utilization of available resources while maintaining the programme’s cluster-based production model.
Mr. Diyong further assured participants that they would continue to receive technical guidance, operational support, and regular field supervision to promote best agricultural practices and maximize productivity. He also reminded beneficiaries of their obligations under the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed during the onboarding exercise and urged them to comply fully with the programme’s operational guidelines.
The Chairman of the Plateau State Youth Council (PYC), Comrade Panan Gongden Dapar, who also serves on the programme management team, described P-YAEP as a practical demonstration of the Plateau State Government’s commitment to creating sustainable economic opportunities for young people through agriculture.
He encouraged participants to approach the programme with dedication, discipline, and a strong work ethic, noting that their success would not only improve their livelihoods but also contribute significantly to food production and economic growth across the state.
Also speaking, the Project Technical Supervisor, Mr. Amos Dashe, commended the enthusiasm displayed by participants as they commenced farming activities. He reiterated that the programme is built on the principles of accountability, transparency, discipline, and measurable impact, adding that adherence to these values would be critical to achieving the programme’s objectives.
Several participants expressed appreciation to the Plateau State Government for providing young people with a practical opportunity to participate in commercial agriculture. They pledged to maximize the opportunity by cultivating their allocated plots diligently and contributing to increased food production, job creation, and agricultural development in Plateau State.
With farm plots now allocated and planting activities underway, the Plateau Youth Agricultural Empowerment Programme (P-YAEP), through its Agro Partnership Programme (APP), has entered full implementation, setting the stage for a productive 2026 farming season and further strengthening the Plateau State Government’s drive to position agriculture as a catalyst for youth empowerment, wealth creation, food security, and sustainable economic transformation.
The Plateau Youth Agricultural Empowerment Programme (P-YAEP) remains one of the flagship initiatives of the Governor Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang administration. Through its Agro Partnership Programme, the initiative is nurturing a new generation of young agro-entrepreneurs, strengthening agricultural value chains, expanding commercial farming, increasing food production, and creating sustainable economic opportunities for youths across Plateau State.
