Jigawa State Governor, Malam Umar Namadi, has launched the disbursement of $250,000 in Community Revolving Funds (CRF) under the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscape (ACReSAL) Project to the Dabi Community Revolving Fund Committee.
This marks the beginning of CRF disbursement to 100 Community Interest Groups (CIGs) under Ringim and Hadejia Catchments. The ten pilot communities, including Dabi, Hantsu, Agufa, Shafar, Gamsarka, Gilima, Yandutse, Safa Babba, Gamafoi, and Auramo, will each receive $25,000 as a loan initiative aimed at enhancing agricultural productivity, food security, and promoting rural development towards climate-smart agriculture.
Governor Namadi emphasized that the Community Revolving Fund (CRF) will complement the state government’s 12-point agenda on agriculture, environment, and water resources, ensuring sustainable land usage, water resource management, and resilience to climate-smart agriculture. He encouraged the coordinating team to expand this initiative across the state.
The Governor reminded the receiving CIGs that the CRF initiative is a loan and must be repaid within the designated timeframe, emphasizing the need for judicious use of the funds to allow other farmer groups to benefit.
The Honourable Commissioner of Environment and Chairman of the ACReSAL Project Steering Committee, Dr. Nura Ibrahim Kazaure, explained that the CRF aims to enhance agricultural productivity, food security, and rural development, while educating farmers on climate-smart agriculture and access to markets, increasing market linkages and value addition among CIGs.
The State Project Coordinator, Malam Yahaya Uba, disclosed that the selection process for CIGs underwent rigorous scrutiny, and the State Project Management Unit has put in place measures to ensure effective loan recovery, enabling more farmers’ groups to benefit.
The ACReSAL Project is mobilizing and building the capacity of more farmers’ groups to benefit from CRF across the state, with the World Bank granting a “no objection” to expand CRF implementation to four additional watersheds, aiming to reach 2800 communities, he said.
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