The Adamawa State Government in its drive to ensure food security has reaffirmed it’s commitment to ensure sustainability in the state.
The government, through the Adamawa State Agribusiness Support Programme (ADAS-P), has designed a programme that will ensure access to finance for smallholder farmers, processors, aggregators, traders, and exporters.
This initiative aims to boosting food security and improve on the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) as well as creating job opportunities across the state.
Additionally, ADAS-P seeks to improve value addition in crops, livestock, agriculture, and agroforestry sub-sectors, attracting investors and reducing youth restiveness.
This was disclosed during a meeting on Monday with stakeholders, including the Adamawa State Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industries, and Chambers of Commerce.
ADAS-P’s Lead Consultant and Chief Operating Officer, Yunusa Ibrahim Gafai, outlined the program’s objectives which focused on deliberating the framework, identifying potential processing companies, and setting a tentative start date.
According to the COO, “ADAS-P will provide guarantees through its credit guarantee scheme and facilitate N3 billion from three banks.”
Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industries, Mrs. Saso Benson Ali, in her remark emphasised the importance of meeting with banks before involving processors to ensure proper understanding.
She said, “This development aligns with ADAS-P’s mission to empower farmers, foster rural development, and ensure food security. By improving access to finance, ADAS-P aims to support smallholder farmers, processors, and aggregators, ultimately contributing to the state’s economic growth.”
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