FCTA to distribute $4.5 million grant from World Bank to 12,283 Nigerian farmers
The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) will improve 17 Wet Markets as part of its Fadama program and award 12,283 farmers a $4.5 million grant from the World Bank.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, this payment is a portion of the $15 million given to the FCTA by the Covid-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus (FCT CARES) program, which is supported by the World Bank.
The FCT Minister of State, Dr. Mariya Mahmoud, made this announcement on Thursday at a grant distribution event in Gwagwalada, with a focus on the third batch of 3,707 beneficiaries. So far, 7,940 people have benefited from the grant; together, 4,233 people from the first and second batches have used it.
The funding is intended to be used for agricultural and other revenue-generating endeavors during the forthcoming dry season in 2023–2024.
Fertilizers, better seeds, agrochemicals, sprayers, and crop growers’ personal safety equipment were among the supplies distributed.
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Farmers who raised poultry received day-old chicks and feed, and farmers who raised fish received young fish and feed. Goats were supplied to livestock farmers, while grinding equipment were given to women processors.
The fund payment was highlighted by Minister Mahmoud as a “significant milestone” in achieving President Bola Tinubu’s renewed hope program.
Under this agenda, the agriculture sector is a major area of intervention with the goals of improving food and nutritional security, supplying raw materials to nearby businesses, creating jobs for young people without jobs, and generating foreign exchange through exports. The World Bank’s Community Driven Development method is utilized by the Fadama initiative, which aims to assist impoverished and vulnerable households involved in agricultural value chains in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in resuming their livelihood activities.
The FCTA Permanent Secretary emphasized that grant disbursement has already started for other delivery platforms that are executing FCT CARES program outcome areas 1 and 3. The Abuja Enterprise Agency, the FCT Community and Social Development Project, and the FCT Cash Transfer Unit are among the implementing agencies.
Adesola called on the FCTA, the FCT Fadama CARES Office, and the Agriculture and Rural Development Secretariat to guarantee the effective execution of FCT CARES Result Area 2. The Agriculture and Rural Development Secretariat’s mandate secretary, Mr. Lawal Geidam, promised support for the Fadama program’s implementation.
