Adamawa state Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr Ahmadu Waziri, revealed that there was provision for over 10,000 farmers to participate in the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Accelerated Agricultural Development Scheme (AADS).
Waziri made this known to newsmen on Monday at a town hall meeting organised for representatives of farmers’ in the state.
According to him, the programme, which is under Anchor Borrowers’ Programme, is targeted unemployed youths within 18 to 35 years and are not currently participating in any government empowerment programmes.
He said the state entered maize and livestock as its choice areas under the programme, adding that participation was open to all categories of youths. He also added that the programe is targeted at both educated and non-educated youths willing to embrace agriculture.
Waziri said that 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 also collaborate with traditional rulers wherever the need for land rises.
He tasked officials of farmers’ groups at the meeting and advised those whose members wished to use the loan for the dry season farming to start their registration process within the week to enable them access the loan in good terms.
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.
