National Directorate of Employment (NDE) has distributed the sum of N9.3m to 93 smallholder farmers in Bauchi State to boost animal and crop production in the state in line with the present administration’s efforts at food security and agricultural promotion.
This was made known in Bauchi, by the Director, Rural Employment Promotion Department, NDE Headquarters, Mr Mbata Michael, at the opening of 5-day agricultural extension training for the beneficiaries in Bauchi.
The NDE was founded in November 1986 but fully began operations in January 1987. It was created by the government to battle mass unemployment and articulate policies aimed at developing work program with the labor intensive potentials.
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The directorate was mandated to formulate and administer job creation as well as employment related training program for the populace.
Mbata Michael, represented by the Senior Rural Employment Promotion Officer, Mr Farouk Farouk, urged the beneficiaries to ensure effective utilization of the facility in order to expand their businesses.
He explained that each of the beneficiaries received the sum of N100,000 loan to increase their productions, adding that the loan facility has a six months moratorium period before commencement of repayment and it will be repaid within 30 months.
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According to him, the facility was part of programmes initiated by the Director-General of NDE, Malam Abubakar Fikpo, to encourage crops and animal productions.
“It is designed for farmers in different areas, those in commercial farming trying to sustain their businesses and those who are likely to start up agricultural businesses”.Many of them are doing one or two things in agriculture and the money is to augment their businesses,” he said.
The state coordinator for the NDE, Mr Lawan Yaya, noted that the exercise was to complement Federal Government’s efforts towards encouraging agricultural production through improved farmer support services and that the Directorate has concluded arrangements to train 50 agricultural extension workers in the 20 local government areas of the state.
