The Country Director, African Development Bank
(AfDB), Dr Ousmane Dore, has earmarked 175 million dollars for Agricultural
Transformation Agenda Support Programme (ATASP-I) as instrument for
consolidating the bank’s investments in Nigerian agricultural sector.
The latest edition of the bank’s newsletter, issued
by its Nigerian Country Office on Tuesday in Abuja quoted Dore as saying
this at a meeting held in Kaduna Government House recently.
He said that in recognition of its ongoing effort
to transform agriculture from subsistence to agribusiness, AfDB was invited by
the leadership of Nigeria’s North-West region to review the agricultural
development strategy for the region.
Dore added that another aim of the invitation was
for the bank to give an overview of its ongoing and upcoming interventions in
agriculture in Nigeria as they relate to the seven North-West states.``In line
with the agenda of the meeting, we (bank) have outlined the Agricultural
Transformation Agenda Support Program (ATASP-I) of 175 million dollars
as the main instrument for consolidating bank investments in Nigeria
agricultural sector.
``Under this programme, the bank has established
four Staple Crops Processing Zones (SCPZs), which cover four out of the
seven North-West states - Kebbi, Sokoto, Kano and Jigawa,’’ Dore said.
Dore also outlined two upcoming projects totalling 500 million dollars.
Dore also outlined two upcoming projects totalling 500 million dollars.
He said that 300 million dollars was on Empowering
Novel Agri-Business-Led Employment (ENABLE) Youth Programme and 200
million dollars on Phase II of the ATASP.
Dore said that the forum recognised that the bank
had been providing financial support to SMSE through lines of credit to several
commercial banks as well as through the policy banks like Bank of Industry and
NEXIM.
He added that the forum also appreciated the bank’s
technical assistance to the Bank of Agriculture through grants.
Dore said that the governors expressed gratitude to the bank and its president for supporting the region.
Dore said that the governors expressed gratitude to the bank and its president for supporting the region.
He said that they also gave the assurance of
working closely with the bank to finalise and operationalise their agriculture
strategies
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