The Director-General, National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brig. Gen. Suleiman Kazaure,
on Thursday, has said that arrangements were being made to enable corps members
interested in farming to access soft loans for the 2017 farming season.
Inspecting 145 hectares of NYSC farmland in Bauchi, Kazaure explained that the aim was
to train corps members in modern farming to enable them become self-reliant after their service year.
According to him, talks were ongoing between NYSC and various banks such as
Bank of Industry and Heritage bank in that direction.
Earlier, the Director, Venture unit of NYSC, Stephen Alabi, said that arrangement had been made for the accommodation of corps
members to be mobilised to the farming settlement.
He said that a 10-bedroom accommodation with a borehole and 100 KVA generator had
been provided in the place.
Alabi said NYSC officials with expertise in agriculture had been posted to oversee the
farmland and its activities.
He said that cowpeas and maize would be cultivated on the land, adding that most of
the work would be done by corps members, in addition to engaging people from outside.
”NYSC has provided modern farm
equipment and corps members from relevant fields will be deployed to the farm settlement,” he said.
Alabi said that the scheme would also embark on farming in four states, adding that the 2017 exercise would scale up
farming activities across the country.
