Gov. Uba Sani of Kaduna State has presented cheques worth $25,000 to 10 communities each, amounting to over N375 million, as a community revolving fund to farmer groups.
The fund was provided on Saturday, March 2, 2025, by the World Bank-assisted Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) Project, to enable the beneficiaries to invest in climate-smart rain-fed agriculture.
The benefitting communities include Anchau, Kuzuntu, Kubau, Zuntu and Jenau, as well as Likoro, Jaja, Hunkuyi, Kudan and Danmahawayi.
Speaking at the event, the Governor said that the fund aligned with his administration’s commitment to rural transformation.
According to him, it is designed to support registered farmer groups under the umbrella of Community Interest Groups (CIGs), with loans.
Sani promised to start the disbursement of his administration’s loans with Kudan and Kubau Local Governments in the phase one of the initiative, with a total of 82 CIGs.
He pledged that phase two would commence in the second quarter of the year, with four local governments in the Central and Southern Senatorial zones as well as two Area Councils in the Northern Senatorial zone.
According to the governor, the concluding phase of implementation would cater for the remaining 11 local government areas.
Sani maintained that the state was proud to be at the forefront of initiatives aimed at combating climate change and ensuring sustainable livelihoods for the people.
“Over the years, we have implemented a range of strategic policies and programs designed to enhance ecological conservation, mitigate the impact of climate change, and promote economic resilience among our citizens.
“With the support of ACReSAL, the State Government unveiled a 10-year Climate Change Policy, trained 500 women, youth, and school-feeding vendors in the production of biomass briquettes as an alternative to wood fuel,’’ he added.
The governor recalled that his administration had identified 22,435 hectares of degraded land for land restoration, provided state-of-the-art weather station.
He had also procured the Amphibious Excavator, otherwise known as Swamp Buggy, for the prevention and control of erosion, deepening of waterways, maintenance and cleaning of rivers.
Earlier, the Task Team Lead of the ACReSAL project, Dr Joy Agene, commended the state for its commitment to environmental sustainability, which was evident in it being one of the best performing sub nationals in the country.
Also speaking at the event, the Minister of Environment, Malam Balarabe Abbas, warned that the fund was a loan and not a grant, adding that it would function as an investment fund.
Abbas said that the ACReSAL project constituted a significant component of the Federal Government’s aim to rehabilitate one million hectares of degraded land, contributing to the goal of restoring four million hectares by 2030.
“The initiative will additionally contribute to diminishing the susceptibility of countless individuals living in extreme poverty in northern Nigeria, thereby enhancing their capacity to engage in the stewardship of their surroundings,’’ he added.
By Hussaina Yakubu