The Agricultural programme targets crop farming to start with. In all the communities that rescue has representation, crop farming happens to be the appealing choice that could start with less capital as compared with other agricultural choices. Rescue is currently into maize and vegetables. We are looking forward to introduce cereals, black eye pea, agushie, soya bean, ground nut and yam in the North during the start of the individual farming project in 2019. Maize is the only variety being considered now under the model program which is scheduled to benefit from the ‘planting for food and jobs’ program.
The next choice is poultry and livestock farming for beneficiaries from the northern belt of the country. This has also been targeted for the second half of 2019. If the model program succeeds, by the end of the year, poultry especially guinea fowl project will be introduced in 2020 for the trainees under the model program.
Under the Agricultural project, land is usually donated by the community for experimental work and initial training of farm apprentices. Subsequently, land is leased from community members for beneficiaries to engage in serious commercial farming. Where RESCUE ensures that proceeds are sold to defray cost and some percentage saved for beneficiaries towards future personal (individual) commercial farming projects. Training and fund raising period is stipulated at 2-3 year depending on how well the market does.
