NAN-AE-6
By Yakubu Uba
Farmers
Yola, Nov. 20, 2017 (NAN) Adamawa Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr Ahmadu Waziri, said there was provision for over 10,000 farmers in the state to participate in the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Accelerated Agricultural Development Scheme (AADS).
Waziri made this known Monday at a town hall meeting organised for representatives of farmers’ groups in the state on the programme.
According to him, the programme, a special one under Anchor Borrowers’ Programme, is meant for unemployed youths within 18 to 35 years who are not currently participating in similar government empowerment programmes.
He said Adamawa entered maize and livestock as its choice areas under the programme, adding that participation in the programme was open to all categories of youths.
According to him, youths being targeted for the programme are educated and non educated willing to embrace agriculture.
Waziri said that under the programme, the state government would provide land to the beneficiaries, where necessary, while participants would be entitled to between one to three hectares of land.
The commissioner said that the state government would collaborate with traditional rulers wherever the need for land had arisen.
He tasked officials of farmers’ groups at the meeting, particularly those whose members wished to use the loan for the dry season farming to start registration process within the week to enable them access the loan in good term.
Various stakeholders, including representatives of the farmers groups, CBN and participating financial institutions who spoke at the occasion lauded the programme and reiterated their commitment to ensure its successful implementation in the state. (NAN)
YMU/DUA
Edited by Dada Ahmed