Jigawa farmers are set to receive a significant boost as the World Bank extends a N370 million agricultural loan to support their endeavors.

The World Bank has allocated a total of N370 million as an agricultural loan for accredited farmers in 10 rural communities in Jigawa state under the Argo-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) initiative. Jigawa state governor Malam Umar Namadi, launching the loan distribution, praised the timely intervention, calling it crucial support for the administration’s 12-point agenda. Namadi emphasized the focus on empowering rural communities through their businesses, aligning with the government’s agenda, and highlighted the World Bank’s revolving fund as instrumental in achieving these goals.

Under the project, 10 communities will each receive N37 million, benefiting accredited farmers to engage in their respective cropping businesses. Namadi expressed optimism that the investment, if properly utilized, would significantly impact poverty eradication, job creation, and sustainable food security in the beneficiary communities. He urged beneficiaries and fund managers to uphold honesty and integrity in loan collection and repayment for the benefit of others.

The state commissioner for the environment, Nura Ibrahim, elucidated that the Community Revolving Funds (CRFs) loan aims to support rural community and farmer groups in climate-smart rain-fed crop interventions. This investment, not a grant but a revolving fund, is geared towards enhancing sustainable landscape management practices in targeted watersheds in northern Nigeria. Each eligible farmers’ group, comprising 10-25 beneficiaries, will receive $25,000, with 2,800 groups targeted for the loan in the state.

Hajiya Iya Wawu, representing women farmers, expressed gratitude to the state governor, the World Bank, and all contributors to the program’s realization, pledging to sustain its benefits.