The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security plans to empower over 25,500 youths and women in agricultural entrepreneurship across the Niger Delta states.
This initiative, funded by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), aims to promote self-reliance and sustainability in agriculture.
During a technical working session on Group Savings and Loan and Record/Bookkeeping held in Owerri, Imo State, Dr. Abiodun Sanni, the National Project Coordinator, highlighted the project’s significance. He noted that participants come from six Niger Delta states and benefit from a $60 million loan from IFAD.
Sanni explained that the project began in 2019 with six states: Abia, Bayelsa, Ondo, Cross River, Edo, and Delta. In 2024, Imo, Akwa Ibom, and Rivers joined the initiative, expanding the project’s reach to nine states.
The project primarily focuses on empowering youths and women in agriculture by providing training in selected commodities, including cassava, plantain, fish, rice, cocoa, oil palm, and poultry.
The empowerment approach covers the entire value chain—production, processing, and marketing—to enhance participants’ capacity.
Training sessions will improve record-keeping and documentation skills, allowing participants to share their knowledge with others in their communities. To qualify for the program, participants must be unemployed or underemployed and reside in rural areas.
Obiageli Ekwelie, the National Financial Inclusion Specialist, added that participants will learn from experts specializing in the relevant commodities.
This training, aligned with the gestation period of each commodity, will equip them with the necessary skills to succeed in business.
CREDIT: Allneeds, PUNCH
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