Six Nigerian states have signed an agreement with the European Investment Bank for a 150 million euros facility to assist them open up rural roads and build markets for farm produce.
The six states which included Benue, Borno, Taraba, Cross River, Edo and Anambra would get the facility under the Rural Access and Agricultural Markets Projects (RAAMP).
Benue State Coordinator of RAAMP, Mr Stephen Numbeve, who spoke with Daily Trust, said once the funds are disbursed and implementation starts in March, Benue’s rural people, who are mostly farmers, would be relieved as they will have access roads to transport their produce and the markets to sell.
He said the project would cut drastically post-harvest losses that farmers incurred due to bad roads and viable markets.
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He explained that the Minister of Finance, Wale Edun, signed the agreement with the bank on behalf of the six states in December and they would share the 150 euros among them.
He further explained that rural access roads will be constructed while three modern warehouses, one in each senatorial zone, will be built; adding that emphasis will be laid on areas where a lot of agricultural produce comes from.
He also said bridges will be constructed in some communities for easy access.