The Accelerated Agricultural Development Scheme, which is being anchored by the Central Bank of Nigeria has decided to support Nigerian youths with over N55.5 billion. The aim is to get at least 37,000 youths in the 36 states including Abuja, involved in Agriculture.
The scheme took off in Minna today as the Niger State Commissioner for Agriculture, Alhaji Haruna Nuhu Duku said 1,000 hectares of land have been cleared and are ready to be allocated to the youths.
The intention is for each youth to be allocated one hectare of land for the cultivation of rice, maize and soya beans. Alhaji Duku also said that between N400,000 and N500,000 would be given to them for labour, and the government will help provide high yielding varieties of seeds to be grown on the lands.
Alhaji Duku said this move by the state, is just the beginning as it has plans for expansion into the remaining local government areas of the state; the federal government intends on running the scheme for six years.
To make the selling process less stressful for the youths, he said they had found up-takers who will buy the products once they are ready for harvest.
Image Credit: The Guardian
