A recent partnership between the Barau Initiative for Agricultural Revolution in the North West and the Bank of Agriculture aims to empower 558 young and mid-level farmers in the North-West region. The initiative seeks to cultivate a new generation of successful farmers by providing each beneficiary with a loan of up to N5m to grow high-yield maize or rice. This collaboration was announced by the Special Adviser to the Deputy President of the Senate on Media and Publicity, Ismail Mudashir.
At the signing ceremony, which took place at the National Assembly, Senator Jibrin, Prof Bashir Fagge leading the BIARN team, and the BOA delegation headed by Managing Director Alwan Hassan were present. Senator Jibrin highlighted that the initiative aligns with the government’s focus on agriculture, food security, and youth empowerment. The initiative targets unemployed youths, including those with educational qualifications such as HND, bachelor’s, master’s, and PhD degrees.
Senator Jibrin also praised the Bank of Agriculture’s Managing Director for his commitment to the initiative and commended the government for bolstering the Bank of Agriculture’s capital base. The MD of BOA expressed enthusiasm for the initiative, emphasizing its potential to transform agriculture in the Northwest region and elevate 558 young farmers to successful entrepreneurs in maize and rice cultivation.