FCT sets aside 274,000 hectares for agric devt

Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Agriculture and Rural Development Secretariat has 274,000 hectares of land have been set aside for agricultural development as part of efforts to boost food production and reduce prices of foodstuffs in the territory.


Dr. Musa Aliyu, Acting Secretary of the secretariat, who disclosed this in Abuja while fielding questions from journalists recently called on all interested farmers in the territory to take advantage of the expanse of land provided by government to cue into the Central Bank of Nigeria's Anchor Borrowers' Scheme to better their lives.

Aliyu said the secretariat is already in a partnership with Leventis Foundation to train young people who have shown interest in agriculture. He added that the secretariat would embark on the rehabilitation of facilities at the Integrated Agricultural Development and Training Centre in Yaba, Abaji.

"The agriculture secretariat has put in place an implementation committee to mobilise farmers to participate in the Anchor Borrowers Scheme, which is targeted at small-holder farmers who are into rice and soya beans production.


"The FCT enjoys comparative advantage in the production of the two crops," he said.

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