The Association of Micro-Credit Institutions of Nigeria (AMCIN) says it has trained no fewer than 6, 000 women and youths in Ebonyi in Songhai food production since it started operations in South-East in 2021.
Mrs Comfort Nweke, South-East Zonal Coordinator, AMCIN, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Abakaliki.
The Songhai model promotes sustainable best practices in the agricultural sector through the integration of crop production, livestock farming and fish farming.
According to Nweke, the association has registered about 310 cooperatives under it.
The zonal coordinator said that AMCIN was committed to assisting genuine farmers to have access to fund and deploy credit for poverty reduction towards sustainable economic growth.
Nweke explained that the beneficiaries of the training were selected from various registered cooperative societies.
She said they were trained in various agricultural skills including farming, food processing, packaging, among others.
Nweke said the association provided linkage to government’s financial interventions, facilitated funding from development banks, monitored and evaluated to ensure members operated based on best practices.
“Since 2021, AMCIN has trained about 6, 000 women and youths across the zone into Songhai farming; the training are in batches.
“We had also impacted on scores of people like real farmers, market women, widows, downtrodden, cooperative societies among other vulnerable persons over the years.
“We have genuine data which captures the real farmers and people in need from the hinterland.
“We also partner with foreign donors, MasterCard, Bank of Industry, micro finance banks and other groups to enhance food productions.
“The intervention is helping them to save; pay their children school fees and other needs,’’ she said.
The zonal coordinator urged beneficiaries to put more effort in agriculture and utilize government interventions to improve food security in the country.
She appealed to the government to provide equipment, operational vehicles for easy access and monitoring of activities.
Nweke advocated for improved mechanized agriculture and urged women and youths in the society to embrace food production. (NAN)
