The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Fadama III Additional Financing Project has commenced the disbursement of grants to Graduate Unemployed Youth and Women Agroprenuer Support (Fadama GUYS) Scheme beneficiaries in Abuja.
Speaking during the flag-off ceremony, the acting project coordinator, Mr Rotimi Ajayi, noted that FCT is one of the pilot states implementing the GUYS scheme, adding that about 109 unemployed graduates, women and youth are participating in the programme.
Ajayi stated that the participants have received grants disbursements to enable them commence implementation of their chosen sub projects along five broad enterprises which include; crops, poultry, fisheries, livestock and business.
He added that the project has trained 3510 farmers under the Capacity Building Component, while 141 production groups benefited from the project and cumulatively cultivated a total land of 1532 hectares for cassava, rice and sorghum.
He further said that the interventions have recorded significant outcomes in the areas of technology transfer and adoption as well as increases in yield of the three value chain crops being supported in FCT.
Also speaking, the acting secretary, Agriculture and Rural Development Secretariat (ARDS), Mr Olufemi Folarin assured the beneficiaries the support of the Secretariat and the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) towards facilitating the successful implementation and sustainability of various sub projects.
Folarin said the ARDS in conjunction with the Fadama office would carry out intensive monitoring of the implementation of the scheme in order to ensure adherence with laid down guidelines.
One of the beneficiaries, Oyeleke Bola who noted that he received the grant of N379,000 to plant tomatoes, plantain and pepper, said he would leverage on the project to establish a large farm despite the amount given.
He said the money would be given in tranches to make sure beneficiaries make use good use of it.
