Kano partners World Bank to disburse N400m to 400 young farmers

As part of the move aimed at boosting food security through Agricultural Value Chain development, the Kano State Governent, in a partnership with the World Bank, has disbursed N400 million to 10 communities of young farmers across the State.

Governor Kabir Abba Yusuf, while presenting the cheques to the beneficiaries under the programme at Government House in Kano, said the move was to encourage them to grow their outputs as well as ensuring their activities becomes a sustainable business.

He stated that the initiative was being implemented under the Kano State Agro-Climatic Resilience Landscape (ACreSAL) in collaboration with the World Bank.

Governor explained that each of the 10 groups would be receiving N40 million ($25,000) each, meaning that everyone in groups are to get at least N1 million as a start-up capital for agricultural value chain businesses to become self-sufficient.

The governor noted that the programme was designed to register community interest groups and farmers cooperatives in selected areas for climatic resilience businesses.

He urged the beneficiaries to make judicial use of the fund in order to enable other teeming youth across the State to benefit from ACReSAL programme.

According to him, the implementation of the ACReSAL initiative in the state made a remarkable impact in tackling environmental challenges.

He charged Dahir Muhammad Hashim, the State Commissioner of Environment and Climate Change, who was the immediate past coordinator of the ACReSAL to come up with more strategic programmes to ensure friendly-environmental sustainability.

Earlier, the Commissioner urged the beneficiaries to make good use of the revolving fund, noting that there are other international donor agencies ready to support the State, provided this particular project succeeds.

On his part, Abdulhamid Umar, National Coordinator of ACReSAL programme, expressed gratitude to the State Government for the partnership and for its commitment to eradicate redundancy among its teeming youths.