The National Directorate of Employment (NDE) has disbursed N14.6 million in agricultural loans to 136 youths in Akwa Ibom within the last five months.

Director-General of NDE, Malam Abubakar Fikpo, disclosed this in Uyo on Monday during the orientation of the second phase of agricultural loans disbursement.

He was also commencing the Sustainable Agricultural Development Training Scheme (SADTS) for beneficiaries in the state.

Fikpo, represented by a senior official of the NDE, Mr. Edem Duke, said beneficiaries are entitled to N100,000 each at a 9 percent interest rate.

He said the beneficiaries were captured under the Agricultural Enhancement Scheme (AES) and Community-Based Agricultural Empowerment Scheme (CBAES).

He added they were also under Graduate Agricultural Empowerment Scheme (GAES) and Sustainable Agricultural Development and Empowerment Scheme (SADES).

Fikpo said that six months moratorium was given after which beneficiaries were expected to repay the loan in installments over a period of three years.

He expressed gratitude to the Federal Government for the timely release of statutory allocations to the NDE, adding that it has enabled the directorate to venture into several poverty and youths empowerment projects and programs.

“They are expected to repay this loan in three years at nine percent interest. The amount was disbursed between December last year and now.

“The emphasis is on agriculture because it is the mainstay of the economy. We are trying to arouse the interest of our youths to go into agriculture and its value chain. The first batch of recipients was empowered last year December.

“When we are talking about agriculture it is not only about planting crops. Buying and selling agricultural produce is part of it. Not all of them are going to plant or go rear livestock.

“The NDE under President Muhammadu Buhari has performed very well because financial allocations have been coming on time. That’s why we are able to carry this big load that we are carrying,” he said.

Earlier the State Coordinator of NDE, Mr. Promise Eka, said the SADTS was aimed at creating job opportunities for youths in the Agricultural sector.

“The Sustainable Agricultural Development Training Scheme (SADTS) is training which places emphasis on the use of modern technology which ensures that Agricultural research and extension services are high-input for crops and animals production in which the state has a great comparative advantage.

“The training has two components, the theoretical class for two weeks and adaptive experiential farm for 10 weeks,” Eka said.

Speaking, one of the beneficiaries, Miss Esther Akpan, thanked the NDE for the opportunity, assuring that the loans would be used judiciously.