Harsh economic situation being faced by Nigerians has forced some young people to diversify the source of livelihood by engaging in cutting and selling fresh grasses as feeds for home grown animals.
In Yola, the Adamawa state capital, fresh grass selling is now a booming business for the young and the old who are largely patronised by royal fathers and top government officials among which is the current Deputy Governor, Chief Crowther Seth.
The boom in fresh grass business in the state capital, now attract over 30 young unemployed that beseech the bank of river Benue in search for fresh grasses which they cut and tie in belts( bundles) before taking them to accessible areas where willing buyers are always on hand to buy at the sum of #200 to #500 respectively depending on the specie and quantity of the grasses.
Rumde, a suburb of Jimeta metropolis provides a major scene where these young fresh grass sellers converge and carry out their new found business which appears to be growing by the day considering the cream of personalities that patronise them in search for fresh grasses for their home grown animals.
Findings by NEWS PLATFORM revealed that His Royal Highness, the Lamido of Adamawa, Alh. Dr. Muhammad Barkindo Aliyu Musdafa, and the Deputy Governor of the state are among the big buyers of such fresh grasses; thereby making the business very attractive and lucrative for the young men.
The young men defy the early morning cold on daily basis where they enter into the river as early as 5:00am, and cut fresh grasses for them to fend for themselves and their families: pay school fees, house rent and buy foodstuffs among other domestic needs.
NEWS PLATFORM further learnt that apart from the early morning cold, the young men confront all sorts of reptiles, expose themselves to harsh weather condition, as they carry out their business under the scotching sun from 7:00am to 8:00pm in the evening in the event where there is low patronage.
According to them, they use part of what they get at the end of the month to undergo periodic medical check up and diagnosis that will safeguard them against diseases associated with cold and from any attack by reptiles.
Checks further indicated that these young people always make haste to be at the river side, and some of them who came late, stand the risk of walking far distance to generate or gather fresh grasses most especially the ones that animals eat.
A situation whereby they fail to return to dispose their commodities in time, there is a possibility of not getting patronage, and where the grasses are not sold, they become waste.
Baring his mind to NEWS PLATFORM, one of the grass sellers, Bulus Beshene, said he is into the business because he could not lay his hands on a white collar job, and the fact that he has demands to meet.
Bulus Beshene, a 36 year old, husband of 2 wives and father of 6 children, stated that he cuts 2 and sometimes 3 bundles and sell it betwwen #350, to #500 and that some young men cut more than that depending on the patronage on that very day.
He added that their job is not for lazy people, or who want to get things on a platter of gold, but for the hardworking who are ready to sacrifice their comfort zone, saying he has no alternative than to venture into it because he has a family to take care of.
According to him, many young men have been joining the business most especially when they discover that government work is very hard to be found in recent times, saying if another better opportunity is offered to him, he is ready to leave his current job.
On his part, Ishaya Warda, said that they get patronage from the royal fathers and top government functionaries who buy the grasses for their home grown animals.
Ishaya, a 21 year old, husband of 1 wife and father of 3 children, said it is poverty that pushed him into the business, and called on young men not to continue to remain idle waiting for government's job.
He further disclosed that he gets money to pay his children's school fees, buy foodstuffs and pay his house rent for the past 6 years since he ventured into it, and appreciated God for giving them the strength to carry on with their job.
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