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.

“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.

Sponsored

“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

Edo State Govt Declares Over 200 Vehicles Missing

The committee set up by the Edo government to recover government assets says over 200…

1 hour ago

Leverkusen’s Victor Boniface Sidelined Due To Leg Injury

Victor Boniface of Bayer Leverkusen will miss "a few games" following his return from international…

6 hours ago

Court Remands 109 Suspected Foreign Hackers In Jail For Cybercrime

ABUJA–On Friday, the Federal High Court in Abuja placed 109 suspected foreign hackers who tried…

7 hours ago

Simon Ekpa, A Terrorist With Zero Knowledge Of Biafra, Enugu Welcomes Arrest

Enugu State Government has commended the Government of the Republic of Finland for the arrest…

7 hours ago

Italy, Netherlands, Others To Enforce ICC Arrest Warrants Against Netanyahu

The International Criminal Court has issued arrest warrants for Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu and former…

9 hours ago

PCRC Provides Food Products To Widows Of Ex-Police Officers

The Abia State Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC) has donated food items and other household…

9 hours ago