By Ibironke Ariyo
A coalition of Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs), have unveiled agricultural farming project fund and empowerment scheme aimed at supporting Nigerian farmers across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Ambassador Jonathan Okwudiri, the Chairman and CEO of the coalition, who launched the programme in Abuja on Thursday, said it was designed especially for women and youth.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that three organisations are responsible for the programme: the Green Revolution Farmers Feed the Nation Foundation (GRFFNF), the Royal Ambassadors Family Eclairment Foundation (RAFEF) and the Young Women Rise Empowerment and Support Initiative (YWRESI).
Okwudiri said the programme was launched to improve the productivity of Nigerian farmers, especially women and youth, and also contribute to national food security.
He also said the programme was launched to provide financial support, technical know-how and training to farmers across the country.
“Today, February 27, I am pleased to launch the Green Rewards Agricultural Project and Empowerment Fund.
“Our foundation has over one million members, women and youth, from all 774 LGAs in all 36 states of Nigeria, including the FCT.
“We have succeeded in establishing functional and multi-functional cooperatives in major cities and states across all six geopolitical zones of the country.
“We have also acquired huge acreages in several states and plan to cultivate 150,000 hectares of arable land in each region, thereby providing a platform for farmers to contribute to national food security.
“This programme will help reduce poverty, unemployment and hunger while promoting sustainable agricultural practices and environmental protection,” he said.
Okwudiri explained that the foundation will provide personalized prepaid ATM cards to facilitate farmers’ access to finance.
This will enable them to purchase inputs, pay for utilities and cover other agriculture-related expenses, he said.
He added that the organisation’s agricultural holdings include vast tracts of farmlands acquired in some states in North Central, North East, South East, South West and South South of Nigeria.
“We are here today to launch the Agricultural Projects Fund and Empowerment Programme, which will empower our registered members.
“Each member is given a unique Member Identification Number (MIN) to facilitate tracking and monitoring.
“The groups will work with Zenith Bank Plc, Polaris Bank Ltd and Fidelity Bank Plc to open a bank account for members specifically for the Agricultural Projects Fund to facilitate the programme.
“Our ‘Operation Feed the Nation’ initiative will supply food to all 36 states and also export it outside Nigeria.
“The Green Rewards agricultural agreement will reduce unemployment, violence, drug addiction and other crimes and misdemeanours in our society by engaging citizens in agriculture,” he added.
He called on the Nigerian government, financial institutions, business organisations and international donors to support the initiative.
He added that this is in line with the government’s vision of boosting agricultural production and economic growth.
Okwudiri praised President Bola Tinubu’s policies, saying they were aimed at making the country more economically self-reliant.
