Food security: NGOs unveil Agricultural empowerment scheme for farmers

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).

Amb. Jonathan Okwudiri, Chairman Board of Trustees and Director General of the Coalition, who unveiled the scheme in Abuja on Thursday, says it is designed particularly for women and youth.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that three organisations the Green Revolution Farmers Feed the Nation Foundation (GRFFNF), Royal Ambassadors Family enlightenment Foundation (RAFEF) and Young Women Rise Empowerment and Support Initiative (YWRESI) are in charge of the scheme.

Okwudiri said that the scheme was initiated to enhance the productivity of Nigeria farmers especially women and youths and also to contribute to national food security.

He also said that the scheme was designed to provide financial support, technical expertise, and capacity building for farmers across the country.

“Today, Feb. 27, I am thrilled to introduce to you “the Green Rewards Agricultural Farming Project Fund and Empowerment Scheme.

“Our foundation boasts of more than one million membership strength of women and youth from the 774 LGAs in the 36 States of Nigeria, including the FCT.

“We have successfully established functional Multi-Purpose Cooperative Societies across major cities and states in the six geo-political zones of the country.

“We have also acquired vast farmlands in several states, with plans to cultivate 150,000 hectares of farmland in each region, providing a platform for farmers to contribute to national food security.

“This scheme will help reduce poverty, unemployment, and hunger, while promoting sustainable agricultural practices and environmental conservation,” he said.

Okwudiri explained that the foundation would provide customised prepaid ATM cards to facilitate easy access to financial resources for farmers.

This, he said would enable them to purchase inputs, pay for services, and cover other farm-related expenses.

He added that the organisation’s agricultural footprint spans vast farm lands acquired in some of the states in the North Central, North East, South East, South West and South- South Regions of Nigeria respectively.

“We are here today to launch the Agricultural Farming Project Fund and Empowerment Scheme that will empower our registered members.

“Each member will receive a unique Membership Identification Code Number (MIN) for easy tracking and monitoring.

“The groups will partner with Zenith Bank Plc, Polaris Bank Ltd and Fidelity Bank Plc in opening a bank account for the members specifically for Agricultural Farming Project Fund to facilitate the scheme.

“Our Operation Feed the Nation initiative will supply food to all the 36 states and equally export food outside Nigeria.

“The Green Rewards Farm Settlement will reduce unemployment, violence, drug abuse, and other crimes and criminality in our society by engaging the citizens in agricultural farming,” he added.

He appealed to the Nigerian government, financial institutions, corporate organisations, and international donors to support the initiative.

He added that it aligned with the government’s vision to boost agricultural production and economic growth.

Okwudiri appreciated the policies of President Bola Tinubu, saying that they are aimed at lifting the economic empowerment of the nation.