The FADAMA III Additional Financing (AF) says it will train 6,900 youths in agriculture and agro-allied business in 23 states across the country.

At the end of a four-day review meeting of FADAMA III AF communication strategy in Minna,Malam Bashir Dayyabu, the National Communications Officer, howeverdid not name the 23 states.

He however said that after a two-week training, the beneficiaries would be assisted with starter packs and cash to establish farms or businesses depending on vocation.

He said that the programme known as ‘FADAMA Guys’ was part of efforts by the Federal Government and the World Bank to create jobs and promote agriculture.

The communication officer said that the FADAMA III AF, which began in 2014 and expected to wind up in 2017, had been extended to 2019 to accommodate 26 non-FADAMA states.

He said that the project was aimed at supporting core value chain in the production of rice, tomato, sorghum, cassava and horticulture.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the six core FADAMA states include Anambra, Niger, Kogi, Kano, Enugu and Lagos.

Dayyabusaid that the project was working toward making Nigerians embrace farming as a business to earn a living.

“It is the duty of our communication officers to sensitise our youths and farmers on this issue.”

Dayyabu said that communication was vital to the success of FADAMA in the country.

“If you are in an organisation that you have to sell your product, you have to go through the media which is communication.”

Earlier, Malam Aliyu Kutigi, Niger State Coordinator of the project, said that the state office of the project had established a FADAMA community radio through the World Bank in collaboration with the national FADAMA office.

He said that the meeting would review communication strategy to be adopted to reach out to FADAMA beneficiaries on how to better their lives and increase food production through the media. (NAN)