The Federal Government of Nigeria is working to address the ageing farming population in the country, youth unemployment, restiveness, insecurity and unorganized agricultural markets by changing the labour composition in the agricultural sector in favour of the youth and reduce crime and criminality. Accordingly, the Youth Employment in Agriculture Programme (YEAP) already launched by Mr. President on 16^th December, 2014 was conceived to support young commercial farmers with specialized entrepreneurial skills and access to credit to upscale their businesses. The goal of YEAP is to attain National Food Security, lay a solid foundation for a more competitive, commercialized and efficient agriculture that will help Nigeria to rapidly diversify the economy and become a global powerhouse in the food and agricultural and consequently actualize the Agricultural Transformation Agenda (ATA)

YEAP will empower over the next three (3) years 18,500 Nagropreneurs (500 per state) and 740,000 Market-Oriented Producers (Rural Youth) 20,000 per state from 36 States and the FCT. The 36 States and FCT are to be admitted in batches in the first three (3) years of the programme. Batch 1 made up 12 States with selection from two (2) States from each zone + FCT. This will apply in Batches 2 and 3 States.

The first batch of participating states to be admitted in 2015 is: Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Enugu, Imo, Ogun, Lagos, Kaduna, Katsina, Niger, Benue, Bauchi, Gombe and FCT Abuja. The programme will support each participating state for a period of three (3) years of which the states will prepare a follow-up strategy to sustain the programme.

The priority value chains include; Poultry; Aquaculture; Sheep & Goat Production; Bull Fattening; Welding & Fabrication; Repair & Maintenance of Agricultural Equipment; Foot Wear & Leather Goods Manufacture; Cassava Production & Processing; Cocoa Production & Processing; Oil Palm Production & Processing; Sorghum Production & Processing; Maize Production & Processing; Wheat Production & Processing; Groundnut Production & Processing; Snailery & Grass cutter Production; Apiculture (Beekeeping & Honey Production); Horticulture (Tomato Production & Processing and Orchard & Nursery Establishment) and Agricultural Extension Services.

Accordingly, the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development invites interested and eligible potential Nagropreneurs (Graduated Youth) and Market Oriented Producers (Young School Leavers and Out of School Rural Youth) of age 18-35 years and registered business entrepreneurs, Youth Associations in the above mentioned States to express interest in participating in the Programme.

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