By; IBRAHIM ADAMU, Kaduna.
In an effort to address unemployment rate in the country, the Government of Kaduna State through its Commercial Agricultural Development Project (CADP), a World Bank assisted project is to empower 700 youths and women in its youth and women empowerment scheme in the agricultural sector.
Addressing newsmen in Kaduna, the Communication officer Aliyu H. Saidu said prospective beneficiaries upon a written application and selection will be trained in three value chain namely, poultry, fishery and dairy production.
According to him, the selection of the benefiting youths and women will be carried out randomly through a yes or no picking and will be by local government basis to ensure transparency.
He informed that the expression of interest by applicants will be scrutinised to ensure that it meets with the requirement which include that the applicant must be a minimum of 18 years and not more than 40 years for youths while women must be minimum of 18 years and above to qualify to apply.
Also required will be a letter of indiginization, birth certificate, passport and valid phone numbers, he said.
The communication officer also disclosed that successfully selected applicants will be trained at the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria for two weeks after which they will be expected to write a business proposal upon which they will be assisted with a grant.
He said, the effort which is primarily to reduce unemployment rate in the state, will also reduce youth restiveness and social vices among the youths in particular.
“The first batches of 74 has already been trained and are at the point of receiving the grant in an effort targeted at exposing the beneficiaries to international agronomical practices and support for commercial farming in the state.
“So far, we have supported 3200 commodity interest groups comprising of 600 women and 2600 youths.”
