The National Directorate of Employment [NDE] would train 100 unemployed persons on Sustainable Agricultural Development scheme in Benue, according to Director- General of the organization, Mr Abubakar Fikpo .
Speaking at the opening of a workshop on Wednesday, in Benin, he added that the participants would be given loans at the end of the workshop .
Fikpo, who was represented by state Directorate Coordinator, Mr Solomon Edobor, hailed the Federal Government for initiating the scheme in the State, aimed at training and empowering federal government organizations with capacity to deliver services to the people.
He said that the first batch of 100 unemployed persons would be exposed to the area of Sustainable Agricultural Development.
The Director- General added that already the Rural Employment Promotion Department of the directorate had been mandated to implement the Sustainable Agricultural Development Training Scheme [SADTS] and the Graduate Agricultural Empowerment Scheme [GAES] across the country.
“These schemes, have for years recorded huge successes through rural Economic growth, reduction of urban, rural migration, employment Opportunities for graduates of tertiary institution, as well as wealth creation.
He said that the schemes would target graduates of Tertiary Institutions who had strong passion for agriculture, while local farmers would receive soft loans of N100,000 to start their own businesses.
“They must be people with passion for agricultural production, livestock and crop production using the value chain of production; processing, packaging, marketing and consumption’’. he said.
On Graduate Agricultural Enhancement Schemes, Fipko said the beneficiaries would repay the loans within three years on a revolving basis.
Fiko commended the minister of labour for initiating the schemes, adding that both schemes would be implemented in the 36 States and FCT.
(NAN)
