World Bank disburses N400m to 10 farming groups under ACReSAL scheme

As part of efforts aimed at boosting food security through agricultural value chain development, the Kano State government, in a partnership with the World Bank, has disbursed N400 million to 10 communities of young farmers across the state.

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

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

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

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

He urged the beneficiaries to make best judicial use of the fund, 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, Commissioner of Environment and Climate Change, who was the immediate past coordinator of the ACReSAL, to come up with a more strategic programme to ensure friendly environmental sustainability.

In his welcome address, Hashim urged the beneficiaries to make good use of the revolving fund, disclosing that there are other international donor agencies ready to support the state, provided this particular project succeeded.

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 youth.