Agriculture has been gaining the attention of governments at both State and Federal Levels because it is now seen as the sustainable source of income when compared to the dwindling crude oil market, which has led to the provision of loans, grants and other forms of financing to enable farmers build their businesses.
But the challenges have been difficult access to funds to transform thier farming ventures into money making entreprises without liquidation.
This is why the RUFIN programme is organizing a four day training programme for youth centred corperative groups from across the State on business entrepreneurship and development.
Federal Government and International Fund For Agricultural Development-IFAD assisted Rural Finance Building Programme otherwise known as RUFIN is a programme targeted at identifying farmers across the country, provide them support services, grant them access to professional consutancy and ultimately link them to financing institutions such as microfinance banks, Bank of Agriculture and other local and international organizations that provide grants and low interest loans to farmers.
The ongoing four day training which has kicked off in Awka, organized for youth cooperative groups in the poultry and pig production value chain, is targeted at helping the farmers gain skills in business development and entrepreneurship, help them see their farms as potential businesses that will provide the food needs of the people.
Speaking to the ABS, the Anambra State Programme Cordinator of RUFIN, Mrs Mary Emegwali said the training focused on the youth because they are the work population that could secure and sustain the reforms in the agricultural sector to become usefully engaged, becoming self reliant and contribute meaningfully to the society.
A Special Assistant to the Governor on Agriculture, Mr Paul Oforozor, said the programme fits into the State Government’s Agricultural blueprint and therefore has gained the interest and support of the State Government, urging the participants to put into practice the practical lessons they are learning from the training.
Mrs Uche Ogbonna, the Assistant Micro Finance Officer of RUFIN for Awka North and Dunukofia who delivered a paper on “Group Dynamics and Business Entrepreneurship” emphasized on the need for the cooperative groups to strengthen their leadership structure to make them viable enough to gain government intervention while Participants at the workshop shared how the workshop is helping to open their eyes and how it will improve their businesses.
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