A total of 3,110 graduates have applied for the Young Farmers Agricultural Revolution Program initiated by the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau I. Jibrin, across seven North West states.
The program, under the Barau Initiative for Agricultural Revolution in the North West (BIARN), aims to empower 558 young farmers with loans ranging from ₦1 million to ₦5 million to support rice and maize cultivation. Applications opened on March 7, 2025, and closed on March 21, 2025.
According to a statement by Senator Barau’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ismail Mudashir, Kano recorded the highest number of applications with 998, followed by Jigawa (590), Katsina (455), Kaduna (397), Zamfara (240), Sokoto (221), and Kebbi (209).
The program, implemented in partnership with the Bank of Agriculture (BOA), is designed to support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda on food security and youth employment. Successful applicants will be notified next week, and the program will be officially launched next month ahead of the farming season.
Professor Bashir Mohammed Fagge, a professor of animal science, will chair the program. Three graduates from each of the 186 local government areas in the seven states will be selected to participate.
Senator Barau stated that the initiative aims to revive the agricultural sector, a key driver of the North’s economy, and provide sustainable employment opportunities for young people.
