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By Esenvosa Izah
Hydroponic farming provides immense opportunities to meaningfully engage the youth, reduce unemployment and drive a positive change, an entrepreneur, Mr Daniel Okpata, has said.
Okpata, the Founder of Farmstead Hydroponic Farm, made the assertion in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.
He said that the level of unemployment globally had become worrisome and required collective efforts to tackle.
Okpata said that youths could explore opportunities in agriculture and other sectors to beat unemployment.
He said that he would implement precision farming techniques by the first quarter of 2026 to advance his business.
The entrepreneur said that the implementation would create opportunities for employment of skilled labour in his farm.
According to him, hydroponic farming is a soilless method of farming.
He said it would eliminate issues such as soil erosion, degradation, and soil-borne diseases.
‘’On the implementation of precision farming techniques, we will be acquiring equipment that require dedicated personnel to monitor anomalies in plant moisture content, PH level and nutrient content, among others.
‘’With increased yields, effected by these techniques, comes the need for manpower for product sorting, packaging and distribution.
‘’We grew from 30 to 60 substrates to almost 400 substrates; this created job opportunities for artisans and salesmen.
‘’Also, the entire supply chain that facilitated distribution across more than 100 families in three communities in Ojo/Amuwo-Odofin areas of Lagos State benefitted,” he said.
He advised the youth to take advantage of emerging technologies to develop their potential and contribute to societal development.
Okpata said that Artificial Intelligence (AI) presented 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 ease the burden of unemployment.
‘’I urge other stakeholders to find solutions to close the gap of unemployment in Nigeria,” Okpata, also the Founder of Citiflo Solutions, an app-based logistics solution, said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Ijeoma Popoola
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