By Fatima Saka
The African Union Development Agency and New Partnership for African Development (AUDA-NEPAD) has empowered about 5,400 small holder farmers, who are to benefit from a 5-year Project in Bauchi State.
The Director-General, Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Bauchi State Office, Dr Esther Ahmed made this known at a meeting with all Desk Officers from the 20 local government areas of the state, on Thursday.
The project, scheduled to commence implementation in May this year, is tagged Innovation Strengthening of Small Holder Farmers Capabilities, Towards Productive Land Restoration amid Covid-19 in Nigeria.
However, It is aimed at cushioning the impact of Covid-19 and Climate Change in the 22 states selected to benefit.
Dr Esther Ahmed explained that 50% of the beneficiaries would be men, mostly youth and 40% women, while 10% would be Persons With Disabilities (PWDs).
She also said 9 local government areas were selected for Cluster farming taking into cognisance the availability and accessibility of land to include Alkaleri, Tafawa Balewa, Toro, Misau, Dambam, Warji, Gamawa, Jama’are and Itas Gadau from the Bauchi South, Central and Northern Senatorial Districts respectively.
In addition, the Director General also explained that the project would provide about 60 Green Houses across the 20 local government areas of the state with each of them having at least 2, for women and PWDs to participate so as to ensure social inclusion.
Speaking on, Dr Esther said Governor Bala Mohammed had among other Governors of the benefiting states exhibited high sense of commitment by signing the ₦2 billion counterpart fund, which paves the way for the state to access ₦4 billion throughout the years of project implementation.