Akwa Ibom is among the 23 states in the country to benefit from World Bank’s N8.6 billion meant for 5,916 youths to increase their participation in agricultural production.
Other states eligible for the programme are: Abia, Adamawa, Anambra, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Benue, Ebonyi, Ekiti, Jigawa, Katsina, Kebbi, Kogi, Niger, Ogun and Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Plateau, Sokoto, Taraba, Zamfara states and the Federal Capital Territory, FCT.
Mr. Kwaji Daguru, the Chairman of FADAMA GUYS Implementation Committee who told newsmen, in Abuja on Tuesday, explained that the donation would be made available through the FADAMA III Additional Financing, AFII, Programme.
Mr Daguru who also doubles as Procurement Specialist for FADAMA III (AFII) Programme, said the objective of the programme targets 5,916 youths in 23 states in order to increase the participation and involvement of agricultural production.
Mr Daguru stated that the importance of youth involvement in agricultural programme is pivotal in boosting the ongoing efforts aimed at achieving food security in the country.
He added that the agricultural sector has enormous job opportunities to offer the growing number of unemployed youths in the country.
Mr Daguru said that, registration for the programme ended on May 15, 2017, while adding that disbursement had yet to start, but guaranteed that the money allocated for the project was safe.
He emphasised that the allocation of funds would be done through the Grant and Funds category of the project.
“We have applied to the federal government, through Federal Ministry of Finance for permission to reallocate funds from other categories like Consultancy, Training, Civil Work into the Grant and Funds category.”
According to him, the disbursement of funds will begin with those engaging in rainy season agricultural activities, as they have completed the required grant agreement and submitted their land documents.
He said, “The Phase One is expected to gulp about N8, 675, 013, 679.12 to fund the business plans of the 5,916 candidates in 23 states.
“If the resources permit in the last segment of the project, we will be able to upscale to other states in the second phase.’’
Mr Daguru stated that, the goal of the programme is to work with government in three areas of job creation, while building the capacity of the youths and strategic efforts to keep the foreign exchange rates low.
“We are making sure we import low quantities of rice and tomatoes, while putting less pressure on our Naira (currency) so as to make our economy strong.
“The programme would support all aspects of agricultural production in a business or commercial manner; right from crop and livestock production, inputs support supply and advisory services.
“It would also assist extension services and post-harvest production services like storage, warehousing, marketing and products distribution.’’
He said that the target beneficiaries are between the ages of 18 and 35, as well as graduates and undergraduates of higher institutions.
Mr Daguru noted that at the end of the screening process, the candidates would undertake a two-week intensive training in business and technical fields in the states.
“During the application process, candidates would be allowed to choose specific enterprises of their choice in the agricultural value chain and they would be trained in the ventures accordingly.
“At the end of the training, they would be asked to submit business plans on their chosen enterprises; we will then invite professionals to review the business plans and come up with standard modules.
“We have 5,916 trainees and they have opened bank accounts with two selected commercial banks that are used by the FADAMA Coordinating Offices in the states,’’ he added.
He added that the reason for opening the accounts was to have dedicated accounts for the project so as to facilitate proper project monitoring.
Daguru said that the organizers did not want the trainees to use their existing bank accounts, as they could be tempted to use ATM (Automated Teller Machine) to withdraw money from the accounts arbitrarily.
“We want to control the use of the funds, while ensuring that the funds are used for the intended purposes.
“They would not be able to withdraw money from the dedicated accounts without prior approval of state FADAMA offices.
“We will also ensure that they insure their businesses with the Nigeria Agricultural Insurance Corporation, NAIC, in the business plans.
“We have made provision for 2.5 per cent deduction from the total cost of the business as insurance premium,’’ he stated.
The programme is meant to accelerate Graduate Unemployment Youths Support Scheme (GUYS) in the country.
