SMEDAN adopts agric-value chain to develop economy

image

BY FATI MUSA MARTE, FEBRUARY 15, 2022 | 12:28 PM


The Small and Medium Development Agency (SMEDAN) of Nigeria has adopted “One Local Government, One Product” (OLOP) programme on agric -value chain with a view to develop the country’s economy.

Dr Dikko Radda, Director-General (DG) of the Agency stated this at the official signing of Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) with Microfinance Banks and Candidate-Beneficiaries under the Programme in Katsina on Monday.

Radda said that OLOP was adopted by SMEDAN for promoting the development of at least one identified agric-value product per local government area in the country.

He said that the aim was to add value to the identified raw material for branding and be certified for import and export.

According to him, the main objective of OLOP is to upgrade human capacity through technological and financial support for efficient and viable cooperative enterprises.

“This will improve productivity and quality of our products to achieve competitiveness to meet national and international standards.

“I am glad to inform you that the Agency will be supporting 199 cooperative/enterprises in 199 local government areas under the OLOP 2021/2022 intervention. “Some 364 of the 774 LGAs in the country have benefitted from the scheme from the 2016 to 2020 intervention.

“About 212 LGAs were covered in 2021 under our estimation, leaving a balance of 198 to be covered in 2022,” he added.

The DG noted that President Muhammad Buhari was committed to fighting unemployment through the development of agriculture and its value chain products.

He commended the Katsina State Governor, Aminu Masari, for his unflinching support towards the growth of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in the state.

Malam Ibrahim Muhammad, responding on behalf of the beneficiaries, commended SMEDAN for the initiative, pointing out that they would not misuse any opportunity extended to them to develop the economy.

NAN


Appeal for support


Conflict Reporting is dangerous and risky. Our reporters constantly face life-threatening challenges, sometimes surviving ambushes, kidnap attempts and attacks by the whiskers as they travel and go into communities to get authentic and firsthand information. But we dare it every day, nonetheless, in order to keep you informed of the true situation of the victims, the trends in the conflicts and ultimately help in peace building processes. But these come at huge cost to us. We are therefore appealing to you to help our cause by donating to us through any of the following means. You can also donate working tools, which are even more primary to our work. We thank you sincerely as you help our cause.

Alternatively, you can also email us on info@yen.ng or message us
via +234 803 931 7767