Buhari Flags Off National Young Farmers Scheme to Empower 774,000 Farmers

Buhari Flags Off National Young Farmers Scheme to Empower 774,000 Farmers – President Muhammadu Buhari has flagged off the National Young Farmers Scheme (NALDA) to encourage young people’s participation in agriculture in Nigeria and also to help expand and modernize the sector.

The scheme was established to guide 1000 farmers from each of the 774 local governments every year, bringing the total farmers expected to be empowered each year to 774,000.

According to the information available on the National Young Farmers Scheme (NALDA) website, the programme will cut across all facets of agriculture.

It stated that the pilot programme will commence by empowering 4,800 new young farmers — 100 young farmers from 3 LGAs in 16 states.

In a series of Twitter posts, Buhari said “Today I flagged off the National Young Farmers’ Scheme, designed by the newly-revived National Agricultural Land Development Authority (NALDA), as part of our efforts to expand and modernize agriculture in Nigeria, and also increase opportunities for youth participation.

“I have directed that all NALDA’s abandoned farm estates be retrieved to enable thousands of our young men and women to be engaged in modern, mechanized farming. I am confident that, under my watch, Nigeria will achieve food security; we will produce most of what we eat.”