APPEALS: World Bank approves 299 investment plans, set to give grants

 
The World Bank has approved 299 agric investment plan of 800 trainees who applied individually and as groups under the Agro-Processing Productivity Enhancement and Livelihood Support Project (Appeals) in Kaduna state.  
Kaduna state Women and Youth Livelihood Specialist, Ibrahim Yakubu, who stated this in Kaduna on Monday, said they are in the process of opening a bank account for the trainees for easy financial transaction and producing their business plans ahead of receiving the World Bank grant. 


The APPEALS project, which covers five states of Kaduna, Kano, Enugu, Lagos, Kogi and Cross Rivers, was set up to support small and medium scale farmers in the participating states, to demonstrate possibilities and opportunities along 11 selected priority agricultural value chains (Rice, Wheat, Cassava, Cocoa, Cashew, Aquaculture, Poultry, Maize, Dairy, Ginger and Tomato).


Speaking on the sidelines of a training for 247 batches 4 and 5 beneficiaries on how to add value to their agric produce through good hygiene, packaging, labeling, quality grading and marketing, Ibrahim said the training which is in batches has so far covered between 3,000 and 4,000 beneficiaries. 


“We have received no objection of 299 investment plans from World Bank for 800 beneficiaries ready for business plans. We have started the process of opening bank account, once the bank has finished sorting their BVN and NIN, their account would be opened and the grant would be sent into their account.”
One of the facilitators of the training, Malam Mohammed Garzali AbdulSalam said that the training was very interactive, “with the seriousness, number and nature of questions they asked, the beneficiaries seemed very interested in this project. 


“For then to achieve their aims, they need to look at what is in the market, they need to tow the line using the training and advises we have given to them, they need to go into cooperative to share experience, divide cost and jointly face challenges which are mostly identical. APPEALS is a project that would impact on the Kaduna state and Nigerian economy, it would add value to the hostel economy.”

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