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The ACAF project: empowering women and youths in Africa.

Nigeria's youth unemployment rate particularly graduate unemployment (30% by very unreliable official government statistics) but which could be anywhere above 40% or even more is a ticking societal time bomb. The fossil fuel and oil common wealth has been effectively hijacked by the corrupt political and millitary class leading to all forms of youth restiveness and violent agitations from Boko Haram, to Niger Delta insurgency and now IPOB. Castor Bean farming with its high dollar income is the paliative.

Challenge
Youth unemployment is grossly downplayed in Nigeria. 30% according to the official statistics but its well over 60%, this is clearly evident in the increased and continued youth restiveness in the country. Ranging from Niger-delta unrests, Boko haram and most recently IPOB, herdsmen, etc. You can easily see the effects of poverty and hopelessness in the activities of the women and youths of this Nation as they hussle perpetually for their sustenance daily.

Solution

African Castor Acres Foundation-ACAF provides free sensitization and training to prospective women and youth castor farmers on the cultivation of castor seeds and the processing of its oil. 


Access to funds for procurement of the best high-yield and early maturing Castor seeds Variety for planting. Linkages to the global market of Castor seeds by eliminating middlemen and guaranteeing full income to the farmers in a more stable currency.


 Beneficiaries become cluster leaders in their immediate communities expanding the ACAF program and breaking the poverty cycle in Nigeria.

Long-Term Impact

The ACAF project educates and empowers women and youth to become certified Castor beans farmers by cultivating just one acre of Castor seeds farm which will produce  at least 2 tons of castor beans every year.


 The proceeds from the farm will help provide for their families' health and well-being.

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