The states include Adamawa, Anambra, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Cross Rivers, Edo, Ekiti, Kogi, Niger, Ogun, Plateau and Zamfara.

The National Coordinator of the National Poverty Eradication Programme (NAPEP), Muktar Abubakar, says the agency will soon begin a grassroots agricultural micro-credit programme for 200 farmers in 12 states.

The coordinator said this in Abuja on Saturday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria.

He said NAPEP had kick-started the project in 12 states to alleviate the sufferings of the vulnerable population in rural areas.

“We will be piloting this project in 12 states, namely Adamawa, Anambra, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Cross Rivers, Edo, Ekiti, Kogi, Niger, Ogun, Plateau and Zamfara,” Mr. Abubakar said.

Mr. Abubakar said the micro credit programme was designed to nurture financial and entrepreneurial education for rural communities.

He said NAPEP would empower and educate rural farmers to utilise resources to improve their economic standard and promote farming as a business to enhance ability to be self sufficient.

Mr. Abubakar said the programme would enable FADAMA farmers to utilise grants and loans from government and ultimately on their own, seek out micro and macro credit loans from private banks.

He said in the process of developing the project, NAPEP had been able to bring partners such as FADAMA, which had a track record of working with farmers at the grassroots level.

“We have been able to assess and provide a list of credible micro-finance banks known for their close relationships with the poor, to come and partner with NAPEP.

“It is this model that we embrace because we want to let Nigerians know that we are here to assist them and help them grow, teach them to help themselves and others,” he said.

(NAN)