KANO STATE GOVT TO PARTNER WITH FG IN THE ‘LIFE’ INITIATIVE PROGRAMME


As part of the efforts of the present administration to boost food production, reduce youth unemployment and empower rural farmers especially women in agriculture, the Kano State Government is to partner with the Federal Government on the newly developed initiative of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development known as the “Livelihood Improvement Family Enterprise (LIFE) program.
This was disclosed by the Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources Kano state, Dr. Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna when the advocacy team of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development headed by Mrs. Karima Ibrahim Babangida paid him a courtesy call in his office recently.
Dr. Nasiru said that Kano state government will always be in the front line on programmes and projects initiated by the federal ministry of Agriculture to eradicate poverty, reduce youth unemployment and empower rural farmers.
He further urged the ministry to involve Ministry of Agriculture Kano state in the selection of cooperative societies and individuals that will participate in the “LIVE” programme initiative to ensure monitoring and full implementation, adding that he would discuss the programme with the Governor for the state’s full participation.
Earlier, the leader of the advocacy team and the Federal Director, Department of Extension Service, Mrs. Karima Ibrahim Babagida told the Commissioner that the Livelihood Improvement Family Enterprise (LIFE) Program is an initiative of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD), to promote community-based on farm and off-farm business activities as a model for job and wealth creation among women and youth in rural and suburban households.
According to the Director, the LIFE program will be implemented at ward levels across the country through groups of cooperatives established by means of the program where cluster members will be identified, trained and supported to improve their access to finance affordable and improved agricultural inputs, sustainable farm practices, agro-processing, and packaging.
Mrs. Babangida said that the program plans to benefit approximately three (3) million Nigerian youth and women through training and capacity enhancing skills along the agricultural value chain of high-worth commodities, noting that the key measurable outcome is the creation of an established mechanism to direct beneficiaries to agribusiness careers for sustained income generation and livelihood opportunities.
She said that the main purpose of the tour to Kano State is to enlighten project communities and collect field data from the state before program activities commence and to give community farmers a brief understanding of the LIVE program, and its short, medium and long term goals, to begin the identification and registration of potential beneficiaries (LIVE Cooperatives and Clusters).
The Director further told the Commissioner that the team had visited six local government areas, two from each senatorial zone and two communities in each local government for sensitization and advocacy of the LIVE program.

Mrs. Babangida told the Commissioner that FMARD solicits for the partnership and support of Kano state government on the LIVE program, adding that the mission requires the cooperation of Regional and State Directors, the state government, the ADP offices, farmers groups and CSO’s present in the state to interact closely to ensure the success and sustainability of the LIVE program.

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