Appeal Project, A Sure Way To Addressing Food Security – Dr. Yahaya Aminu

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ZAINAB TANIMU
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APPEALS Project, A Sure Way To Addressing Food Security – Dr. Yahaya Aminu
Zainab Tanimu
Kaduna, North – Nigeria
The  Agro-processing, Productivity, Enhancement and Livelihood Improvement Support (APPEALS) Projects is a policy of the federal government of Nigeria meant to diversify the economy, promote food security as well as improve the livelihood of the citizens of the federation. 
The implementation of the project took off about a year ago in Kaduna state. 
This was disclosed to journalists by the 
Kaduna State APPEALS Project Coordinator, Dr. Yahaya Aminu during an interactive session on the activities of the Agricultural project and their plans for the year, 2020 in Kaduna yesterday. 
According to him, his office is working with the state government in order to transform the economy of the state through development of agriculture ”by transiting agriculture from subsistence activity to commercially viable activity in order to attract investment towards the sector.” 
 Kaduna state is among the 6 states of the nation selected for this project . He informed.
The six states are, Kaduna, Kano, Lagos, Kogi Enugu and Cross River state. Each of these states are to promote three value chains of agricultural products.
One agric. commodity value chain to promote food security, one value chain to diversify promotion of export and another value chain to improve livelihood of the citizens. 
Kaduna state is concentrating on 3 value chains. He informed.
.”We are working to promote the development of 3 important value chains in Kaduna state which are Maize, Ginger and Dairy. 
Under this project, we aim at supporting 1,700 women, youth and people with disabilities in different aspects of the agric. value chains.
We are hoping that through the implementation of our project and that of other states, we hope to move closer and closer to achieving the goals of agricultural transformation policy of the federal government of Nigeria.
In Kaduna state, we are promoting maize to improve food security. 
We are promoting Ginger production to diversify the economy and promote export. We  are also promoting diary production to improve livelihood of the citizens of the state ‘
Dr. Yahaya while enumerating on their activities and achievements explained that a target of one thousand seven hundred (1,700) successful beneficiaries women and youth would be trained under Women and Youth Empowerment Programme.
 He described the empowerment programme as very key area of the scheme.
Of the 1,700 beneficiaries to be trained, sixty percent (60%) of the applicants are women, 40% male and a space of 5% within this total is reserved for people with disabilities and special needs. He stated.
The training he said will be in 10 batches.
They will be trained in business, technical and personal skills.
”We aim at supporting 1,700 women and youth and people with disabilities in different aspects of the agric. Value chains. 
 Last year, we advertised for expression of interest and we received  applications. Over 25,000 farmers have been mobilized and have registered and presented their expression of interest to participate in the project. 
The 25,000 farmers belong to at least two thousand cooperative societies and farmers organizations which is the entry point for the implementation of the project.
Applications were screened and verified. Between 12-18, November, 2019, we interviewed about 3,000 shortlisted prospective beneficiaries.
We intend to reach out to these successful 1,700 beneficiaries through their telephone numbers as well as publish names on our Appeal website.
 ‘Apart  from these 1,700 target beneficiaries, we also hope to reach 8,300 other farmers under the value chains development programme to reach our 10,000 target beneficiaries in Kaduna state.
In Kaduna state, we are targeting 60,000 beneficiaries. Fifty thousand (50,000) indirect beneficiaries and 10,000 direct beneficiaries. ‘  He said.
Eight training institutions have been selected for this project. 
‘The national coordinator’s office in collaboration with the Kaduna state coordinator’s office and the World Bank have selected accredited training institutions for the training.
These institutions includes, the Center for Dry Land Agricultural of Bayero University, Kano, the National Animal Research Institute of Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, Kano state University of Science and Technology, and Shongay Agricultural Initiative University Enugu state. 
On completion of this training, each beneficiaries would be supported with maximum if 10,000 dollars each as starter pack to take off their businesses”.
On how the appeal project would help in addressing the threat on food security, Dr. Yahaya said through individual efforts and collective efforts of the states promoting commodities of different agricultural value chains, ”we are looking forward to food improvement of this country. He assured.
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