Categories: POLITICS

FG Write NASS, Seek Approval For $1.2Bn Agric Loan

The Federal Government, FG has written the National Assembly, seeking its approval for $1.2 billion agricultural loan from Brazil and Deutsche Bank; to set up mechanisation service centres in 632 local governments of the federation.

The $1.2 billion loans would be deployed under The Green Imperative programme, which is a Nigeria-Brazil Bilateral Agriculture Development Programme.

The programme would be implemented over a period of five to 10 years, with funding from the Development Bank of Brazil (BNDES) and Deutsche Bank; with insurance provided by Brazilian Guarantees and Fund Managements Agency (ABGF) and the Islamic Corporation for Insurance of Export Credit (ICIEC) of the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) and coordinated by Getúlio Vargas Foundation (FGV).

The loan agreement has been signed by the two countries; since 2017.

The programme, said Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, and his counterpart in Agriculture and Rural Development, Sani Nanono, during a joint press conference in Abuja, yesterday, would essentially be private sector-driven.

Mohammed also explained that the programme “is one of President Muhammadu Buhari’s initiatives to attract our younger ones into farming.

Read Also: Thief Falls Asleep Inside Victim’s Car During Operation [Photos]

“This is a specific loan. It is coming to Nigeria and most of the loans would go to manufacturers of the knocked down components. It’s a loan in kind whereby those who would produce the knocked down items would be paid directly. “When it comes to Nigeria, it would create more jobs and reach more small-time farmers.

Sponsored

“The programme will lead to the following: Reactivation of six motor assembly plants in the six geopolitical zones of the country for assembling tractors and other implements.

“The programme will import the Completely Knocked Down (CKD) parts of about 5,000 tractors and numerous implements (for local assembly) annually for a period of 10 years.

“(The programme would lead to the) establishment of 142 agro-processing service centres for value addition, with one centre in each senatorial district, the establishment of 632 mechanization service centres to support primary production in the 774 local government areas and the Federal Capital Territory.

“This will create 774 service centres nationwide to mechanise our farming methods and process or add value to farm produce locally, leading to efficiency and eliminating post-harvest losses, thereby cutting down the cost of food all-year-round

“Private sector operators will operate and manage all the service centres and assembly plants.

“The programme will create about five million jobs and inject over $10 billion into the economy within 10 years. It will create a sustainable supply chain of agricultural raw materials for our large manufacturing companies to source locally, thereby saving billions of US dollars in food-related forex.

“It will train about 100,000 extension workers within three years and would impact over 35 million persons nutritionally and economically.

“Also, it will revitalise our Research and Extension service delivery through a five-year technology-package transfer component.”

SPONSORED
Alex Enemanna

A print journalist with vast knowledge of political developments in Nigeria. Passionate about equity and fairness through robust developmental journalism.

Recent Posts

Foundation Donates Over N2.5m For WAEC Registration Of 63 Students In Ohafia (Photos)

An education-based non-governmental organisation, Children’s Trust Foundation has donated the sum of N2,520,000 to Ohafia…

11 mins ago

Group Cautions Asari-Dokubo Against Inciting Comments

The Rivers Restoration Movement (RRM) has cautioned Alhaji Mujaheed Asari-Dokubo over his alleged inflammatory remarks…

1 hour ago

Ondo Commence Implementation Of N73,000 Minimum Wage

The governor of Ondo State said on Friday that the state government would start paying…

7 hours ago

Ruben Amorim Officially Appointed As Man Utd Head Coach

Ruben Amorim has been confirmed by Manchester United as the men's first team's head coach,…

8 hours ago

Messi Rules Out Being A Coach After Retirement

In an interview with '433' on Thursday, Argentine player Messi talked about his future, the…

10 hours ago

Governor Fubara Denies Shutting Down Oil Companies In Rivers Over Court Judgment

The Rivers State government has debunked a social media report that Governor Siminalayi Fubara shut…

11 hours ago