The Nigerian government through one of its agencies has launched what it calls Village Alive Development Initiative (VADI) that will involve rural stakeholders where they have comparative advantage.
The initiative overseen by the Ministry of Agriculture is part of efforts by the Federal Government to encourage people to embrace agriculture.
At the official launch of the VADI in Kwara State, the people of Omomere Oja in Ilorin South Local Government and Amayo in Ifelodun Local Government Area were full of appreciation.
Officials of the Agricultural and Rural Management Training Institute (ARMTI) handling the programme were welcomed with songs and dances.
The scheme involves giving out one million Naira loan to each rural community to empower farmers to grow different crops and also teach them how to invest their profit judiciously.
The programme, which had earlier been held in four other communities in the state, will also educate local farmers on the modern method of farming and also provide loan to the farmer co-operatives to grow crops in which they have comparative advantage.
The Acting Executive Director of ARMTI, Mr Johnson Njoku, said that under the VADI programme loans given to each community would be repaid to their respective co-operatives.
He expressed happiness that the intervention of the agency in turning around the fortunes of the local farmers had been yielding fruitful results.
The Kwara State Governor represented by his Special Assistant on Agriculture, Mr Anu Ibiwoye, lauded the effort of the Federal Government through ARMTI, adding that the programme is in line with the effort of the State government to encourage local farmers in the state.
A farmer, Idowu Magaji, was full of appreciation and described the training and loan provision as an impetus that would bring out the best in them and also make them self-reliant.
As the Federal Government continues encouraging diversification through agriculture, it is believed that the beneficiaries of the programme would reciprocate by using the money for what it was meant for.