By; JACOB ONJEWU DICKSON
Three thousand youths from Adamawa State have been registered to benefit from Accelerated Agricultural Development Scheme of the Federal government through the Central Bank of Nigeria.
According to a statement signed by SA Media and publicity, Macauley Hunohashi, Commissioner of Agriculture, Alhaji Ahmadu Waziri, Who disclosed this when he led Project Management Team of the program to the state Governor Muhammad Umaru Jibrilla in his office, explained that the total grant for the registration of the participants is one point five billion naira.
The commissioner said the project, which is co-Chaired by the CBN, enables youth of eighteen to thirty five years of age that have Bank Verification Number and must be without employment.
He explained that the state government will serve as the sole guarantor and would acquire the output from the production, in the areas of maize and livestock production.
Alhaji Waziri said Adamawa Agricultural Development Investment Limited, will drive the take off while cluster management team would be established at the local government levels.
While stressing that the initiative was to accommodate about ten thousand youths, the aim was to divert the attention of youths from political thuggery and other related vices.
Other speakers from the PMT, including the representative of CBN, UBA, Bank of Agriculture, Chairman of All Farmers Association, stressed that the program is a worthy initiative that should be embrassed by the state government.
They pointed out that the Federal government has also granted a waiver for states that are indebted in previous programmes to enable them access funds for the project.
Responding, Governor Muhammad Umaru Jibrilla said the initiative is in line with the policy of the present administration to ensure youths are gainfully employed while there is encouragement for more people to be engaged in agriculture.
He however expressed worry over the inability in the recovery of about two hundred and eighty five million Naira initially disbursed to farmers for similar program in the state.
He reiterated the support of the state government in the program but stressed that his administration is transparent and would not allow any financial burden on the state at the detriment of people of Adamawa.
