Lagos, others to participate in $200m World Bank agric initiative

Six states in Nigeria, including Lagos, Kano, Kaduna, Cross River, Kogi and Enugu, have been pegged to take part in a $200 million World Bank agriculture programme known as the Agriculture Productivity Processing Enhancement and Livelihood Scheme (APPEALS) Project.

The APPEALS initiative will focus on food security, local production, job creation and economic diversification, according to Dr. Sheu Salau, Task Team Leader from the, World Bank. The Bank approved the $200 million credit in March 2017 in order to support the efforts of the Federal Government in enhancing agricultural productivity of small and medium scale farmers.

Salau who was speaking on Wednesday in Kaduna on the side line of a two-day Wrap-up meeting on Commercial Agriculture Development Project (CADP) said $80 million out of the amount would go to projects to support youth and women in the participating states.

Salau said the successful implementation of the CADP programme informed the approval for the new project.

On the CADP, Salau said 82 per cent of the funds had been released to the beneficiaries and disbursement of the balance would continue even after May 31, when the project would wind up.


- NAN

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