The First Lady, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu, has supported 200 women and youths with farm inputs and cash in Yobe under the Renewed Hope Initiative Agriculture Support Programme.
Alhaji Ali Goniri, Commissioner of Agriculture and Natural Resources, stated this at a one-day training for the beneficiaries of the programme in Damaturu on Friday.
He said the programme was initiated by the Office of the First Lady and implemented by Hajiya Hafsat Kollere, the wife of Gov. Mai Mala Buni.
Goniri said that 100 women and 100 youths would be trained in crop cultivation, adding that each beneficiary would receive farm inputs and N50,000 for economic sustainability.
“The Agriculture Support Programme and Youth Agriculture Support Programme and Every Home A Garden are strategic efforts aimed at enhancing the capacities of women and youths across agriculture value chain.
“The programme highlights the critical role of youth and women in agriculture and places strong emphasis on livelihood, food and nutrition security,” the commissioner said.
In her remarks, the programme’s acting Coordinator, Dr Mairo Amshi, said the beneficiaries were drawn from the 17 local government areas of the state.
“Two weeks ago, another set of 200 women were empowered : 60 got rice seed and fertilizer, 60 received cowpea seed and fertilizer each.
“40 beneficiaries were given two goats each to breed, 40 others received two-weeks-old-chicks. All beneficiaries received N50,000 cash.
“All these beneficiaries were from the state capital, hence the decision now to expand the scheme by selecting beneficiaries from the local government areas,” she said.
Amshi, who is also the state’s Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs, said the latest beneficiaries were also given N50,000 each and similar inputs, adding that they would be monitored effectively for progress.
She cautioned them against attempting to sell the inputs, advising them to use them judiciously to earn a living.
A beneficiary, Rabi Garba, thanked the first lady for initiating the programme, saying that it would promote self-reliance.
